More snow, more cold, ah, yes, it is winter in New England.
February also brings a beginning to the FY 2027 budget cycle. And yes, there is more daylight in the forecast so there is hope on that side. Hope not so much on the budget front especially if you were looking for prior cuts to get restored.
Tuesday, Feb 10 the School Committee holds the public hearing on their FY 2027 budget proposal. Of note, the meeting also moves to a 6 PM opening to provide sufficient time for line item review by committee and community.
Per the preview we received at the Jan 27th meeting, they will bring in a level service budget at 2.5%. Which also means cuts made last year don’t come back. Fees at this point, don’t change (up or down).
Wednesday, Feb 11, the Town Council gets the Capital budget and the 5 year fiscal forecast with plenty of info on the seriousness of our budget situation especially given the prior override failures.
Town Administrator Jamie Hellen writes that using one time money to balance this budget “I have provided a model to give everyone time to strategize a game plan for the future without any department cuts or conversations about property tax increases in FY27.”
What that statement doesn’t say is
nothing previously cut gets restored (especially on the School budget, but also across the Town departmental budgets)
AND we will start out the next budget cycle (FY 2028) in the hole (by however much one time funds are used)
The Capital budget proposal is less than normal as $2 million in ‘free cash’ is held aside to help balance the (FY 2027) budget as noted above. And by kicking the can down the road again (using ‘free cash’), digs us a hole for the next budget cycle.
Fasten your seat belt for these budget conversations, they won’t be easy.
There are a number of other regular board and committee meetings scheduled for this week. Some adjusted to avoid the school vacation coming next week.
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.
Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1655-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-02-08-26/
*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 2/06/26, 7:00 PM ***
Franklin Housing Authority Meeting
Monday, February 9 Time: 4:30 PM
https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02092026-2126
Franklin Public Schools Community Relations Subcommittee Meeting
Monday, February 9 Time: 6:30 PM
https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02092026-2123
Planning Board Meeting
Monday, February 9 Time: 7:00 PM
https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02092026-2124
Bi-County Collaborative Meeting
Tuesday, February 10 Time: 2:30 PM
https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02102026-2132
Franklin School Committee
Tuesday, February 10 Time: 6:00 PM
https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02102026-2129
Friends of the Franklin Public Library Meeting
Tuesday, February 10 Time: 7:00 PM
No agenda for this session
Town Council Meeting
Wednesday, February 11 Time: 6:00 PM
https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02112026-2130
Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Meeting
Thursday, February 12 Time: 2:00 PM
No agenda posted at this time
Charles River Pollution Control District Meeting
Thursday, February 12 Time: 4:00 PM
https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02122026-2131
Conservation Commission Meeting
Thursday, February 12 Time: 7:00 PM
https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/553?fileID=7915
Cultural District Committee Meeting
Thursday, February 12 Time: 7:00 PM
https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02122026-2125
*** Looking back at the week that was ***
The School Committee conducted their brief and ‘remote only’ meeting to authorize the transfer of accounting for health care to the Town budget line 910. Franklin.news has the recap and video link
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/02/school-committee-votes-to-move-health.html
The Town Council conducted their shortest session of this new term in part by punting on setting goals and reserving time for a lengthy executive session to review property decisions. Franklin.News has the recap and video link
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/02/town-council-discusses-goals-hears-last.html
On the High School video performance recorded/broadcast by Franklin TV
Girls basketball Tuesday 2/3 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5Bb55JhQwk&t=846s
Boys basketball on Friday 2/6 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMotZm6amyE
FHS Winter Jazz concert of 1/27 was published - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcMlZhD7DL8
On the Community video front
Joe Landry’s presentation on Industry through the years in Franklin is available - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfEsSvTOq3A
The presentation at the Library on the Tommaso Juglaris’s mural held in October 2025 is now available for viewing - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7heZtFtT9GQ
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
