Budget, budget, budget
Yes, it is that time. The FY 2027 budget documents were released at the end of March. The Finance Committee is scheduled for their line by line departmental reviews this week over 4 consecutive nights
Monday General Government
Tuesday Schools
Wednesday Public Safety and Department of Public Works
Thursday, if necessary
It is worthy of note that at the end of the Finance Committee hearings this week, they will not vote on a recommended budget. The open enrollment period for the employees and retirees to move to the GIC plans runs April 1 to April 30. The costs associated with such a move (anticipated to be less than maintaining the current process) won’t be available until mid-May.
The Finance Committee also has sessions scheduled for May 28 and June 3. At one of those, it is likely for the budget recommendation vote to occur. The Town Council conducts their budget hearings May 20 & 21 and is scheduled for their vote on the budget at their June 10 meeting.
The time to ask questions about the budget of any particular department or operation or service the Town provides is BEST done during these budget hearings. The department leadership is present to answer your questions, provide the details on the how and why they do what they do.
Aside from the budget, there are a bunch of other Town & School meetings this week. The Planning Board meets on Monday (in the 3rd floor training room).
On Tuesday, the OPEB Trust committee meets as well as the Communications Subcommittee for the Franklin 250th Celebration.
On Wednesday, the School Committee Community Relations Subcommittee meets virtually
On Thursday, Municipal Affordable Housing Trust, Cultural District Committee, Conservation Commission and the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School Board of Trustees are also scheduled as well as a Pole Petition hearing for a new utility pole on Oak St.
The agendas for these individual meetings are provided below.
For all the meetings and cultural events, check out the calendar at Franklin.news where each day, that day's events are posted on the top of the page, the TV and radio schedules are on the bottom, and all the other goodness falls in-between.
*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town pages 4/03/26, 7:30 PM ***
Finance Committee Meeting - Budget Hearing
Monday, April 6 Time: 6:00 PM
https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04062026-2219
Planning Board Meeting
Monday, April 6 Time: 7:00 PM
https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04062026-2231
OPEB Trust Committee Meeting
Tuesday, April 7 Time: 11:00 AM
https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04072026-2235
Finance Committee Meeting - Budget Hearing
Tuesday, April 7 Time: 6:00 PM
https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04072026-2220
250th Anniversary Celebration - Communications Subcommittee Meeting
Tuesday, April 7 Time: 6:00 PM
https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04072026-2237
Finance Committee Meeting - Budget Hearing
Wednesday, April 8 Time: 6:00 PM
https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04082026-2221
Franklin Public School Community Relations Sub Committee Meeting
Wednesday, April 8 Time: 6:40 PM
https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04082026-2230
Pole Petition Hearing - High Street
Thursday, April 9 Time: 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04092026-2210
Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Meeting
Thursday, April 9 Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Agenda not available at this time
Finance Committee Meeting - Budget Hearing
Thursday, April 9 Time: 6:00 PM
https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04092026-2222
Cultural District Committee Meeting
Thursday, April 9 Time: 6:30 PM
https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04092026-2234
Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School Board of Trustees Meeting
Thursday, April 9 Time: 7:00 PM (virtual meeting)
https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04092026-2232
Conservation Commission Meeting
Thursday, April 9 Time: 7:00 PM
https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/582?fileID=8685
*** Looking back at the week that was ***
The Horace Mann Legacy Subcommittee met on Monday, March 30. The recap and exclusive audio is available on Franklin.News https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/04/audio-recording-of-horace-mann-legacy.html
The Board of Health met on Wednesday, the recap and audio should be available Sunday on Franklin.News
The Town Council met on Wednesday, April 1. The recap with video link is available on Franklin.News https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/04/town-council-moves-4-zoning-bylaw.html
The ZBA met very briefly on Thursday, the video is available https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHi68ZHGfxE
The Economic Development Subcommittee held its first session also Thursday. The recap and video link is available https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/04/the-economic-development-subcommittee.html
On the FHS sports front 2 videos are available
Monday, softball vs. KP - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Sl8783Bqh4
Thursday, boys lacrosse vs. Milford - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_ygHcMQcWE&t=466s
For all the meetings and cultural events, check out the calendar at Franklin.news where each day, that day's events are posted on the top of the page, the TV and radio schedules are on the bottom, and all the other goodness falls in-between.
Town calendar -> https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
Community calendar -> https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar
Subscribe for the daily dose of information -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/welcome.html
Subscribe for the weekly dose of information -> https://www.franklinmattersweekly.org/p/subscribe-for-email.html
