🔨 A deep dive into the budget
Deep dive into the budget | Clark visits Framingham for Moms Demand Action Rally | Flags at Edgell Grove | Charter Review Members Wanted | What I’m Reading | The Week Ahead
This is truly one of my favorite times of the year here in Framingham. So many fun and wonderful activities - so little time! Eastleigh Farm, Sterns Farm and Hanson’s Farm are buzzing with fun and food. The Framingham Garden Club celebrated its 90th anniversary with their annual flower sale. This weekend the Framingham History Center holds its house tour (if you see me walking around, say hi!), and flags will be placed on veterans’ graves at our cemeteries.
It is a time of community and renewal. A time to get outside, too, and enjoy the city’s many parks, trails and waterways. And don’t forget - Keep Framingham Beautiful!
Have a comment or question? I’d love to hear from you. Email me at mkfeeney@gmail.com
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A deep dive into the budget
The Sisitsky Administration submitted their Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) budget in April, ahead of the May 1st deadline as outlined in the Charter, to the Council. Now the Council Finance Subcommittee, chaired by George King and includes Noval Alexander, Michael Cannon, Adam Steiner and John Stefanini, is reviewing the proposed budget.
The basics: The Mayor’s budget is a $406 million dollar budget with a 1.9% increase over last year’s budget. It is unclear what this means to the average taxpayer. The Mayor proposes a balanced budget focused on maintaining basic services.
What about the Moody’s rating? Moody’s recently gave Framingham a Aa2 negative bond rating. After an audit of the FY21 budget, they downgraded our bond rating due to overuse of reserves with limited property tax levy increases, concern about our economic development and unstable financial operations. The one time use of reserves to tackle the water and sewer enterprise fund challenges also raised a red flag.
The Sisitsky Administration in their FY24 budget narrative states they are working to address those concerns by increasing reserves, focusing on economic development, and stabilizing both the tax levy and debt.
Points of interest in city government budget:
Budget eliminates reliance on one time funding sources and only uses recurring revenue to cover recurring expenses.
One time funding sources will only cover non-recurring projects and expenses.
Most city positions are filled, but specialized positions are hard to hire. Costs of employment increased due to offering higher salaries to fill positions and maintain the workforce, and the cost of healthcare for city and school employees continues to go up.
2% cost of living increase for employees.
Operating budget includes funding for:
updates to the Library’s Costin Room
furniture replacement and other building maintenance projects throughout city buildings
cleaning and maintenance of 188 Concord Street, which was purchased by the City during FY2023
Roof replacements for the Memorial Building, DPW headquarters, Water Street fire station
Electric vehicles program and energy sustainability/solar projects
Library budget increases 5.24% and includes in the capital budget renovation to the interior space at the Main Library and a study of the parking at the branch library.
The Mayor’s Office budget increases by 3.15%
Restructures the office to eliminate Chief of Staff position – reclassify existing Executive Assistant to Office Manager
Add a part-time Executive Assistant to help with clerical tasks
Add summer internship program under direction of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer
Budget includes Massachusetts Municipal Association membership - which has been a point of debate among the Council on whether or not Framingham should rejoin the MMA. (It’ll be interesting to see what happens this year.)
Parks & Rec budget increases by 8.81%
Add one working supervisor and summer supervisory positions
Rental of line marking robot
Fund $75k for crack sealing of Bowditch tennis courts
Capital budget includes splash pads throughout city, portable stage for Framingham Centre Common, Arlington Street park construction, design of Waushakum Beach improvements, lighting upgrades for parks, and remediation and construction of Mary Dennison Park
Police budget increases 9.47%
Fund replacement cycle for tasers at $73,230
Fund bodycams pilot at $200,000
Public works capital budget includes:
$2 million for annual roads program
$2.8 million for Cedar Street area construction
$5.5 million for stormwater and drainage project, including further work at Waushakum Beach
$150,000 for handicap accessibility throughout the City
$900,000 for vehicle replacement
$500,000 for bridge repairs
$50,00 for Simpson Park access study
$4.3 million for major intersections design and construction, including Fountain/Dudley, Edgell/Central
School budget:
Schools continued to develop budgets using zero based budgeting, and all requests must be justified by the requestor with quotes and background information.
School budget increases by 7.4%.
State Chapter 70 funding increased by 23.44%
53 new positions for classroom and student support, and teachers in all levels created
Increased Safety & Security budget to $306, 261 for purchase of cameras, radios, access controls and professional development.
$875,226 for expanding Early Education through partnerships with Framingham State University, MetroWest YMCA and LovingNest, adding 99 new seats for children in the city
The City budget includes investments to school operations, “from School Resource Officers to crossing guards to water and sewer to health insurance coverage, the City’s budget covers essential costs that are not shown in our operating budget.”
The following chart shows all school related expenses covered by the City’s budget:
Capital budget projects investments more than triple previous budgets:
Roof Replacement Farley & McCarthy
Exterior Envelope Walsh Middle
ADA Upgrade for Compliance District wide
District-wide Furniture
Accessibility, increased participation, student health and wellness special building project Barbieri Café
What is next? Where do we go from here?:
The Sisitsky Administration budget, like in FY23, is very focused on stability. Most departments are level funded, and in many cases if there is an increase it is due to employment costs.
Questions still surround long term strategic planning, a plan to merge similar departments and functions between the city and schools, and how to handle the increase cost of recycling
The Charter states the importance of having a strategic long term plan. The Strategic Initiatives and Financial Oversight Committee, of which I am the Acting Chair, sent a letter to the Mayor, Council and School Committee in November 2022 expressing concern over the strategic plan and the need to review and update the plan from the previous administration.
For decades there has been discussion about merging of departments, yet nothing happens. Two years ago a newly appointed Structural Deficit Committee met and put together ideas on how to approach merging, but nothing happened. It is time for Framingham to make the decision to plan for merging, or simply drop the topic and move on. This hemming and hawing isn’t getting us anywhere.
Also brought up during discussions, should Framingham reassume control over the school buses instead of contracting out to a private company?
The Council is expecting to hear from the Mayor on how to improve the financial situation, and these questions above, in the fall.
Tonight the Finance Subcommittee holds a public hearing on the budget at 6pm.
Clark visits Framingham for Moms Demand Action Rally
Representative Katherine Clark joined 100 residents at Hemenway School to protest gun violence in schools on Saturday. Holding hands with each other, residents, local elected officials and Clark made a human chain around the school.
Who organized the event? Samantha McGarry, a volunteer with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, organized the even with her daughter Tessa. She said at the event: “Guns are the #1 killer of our children in America. I refuse to accept that as okay…I don’t want flowers this Mother’s Day. I don’t want cards. I want to end gun violence.”
Voices will not be silenced: Clark told the crowd that “This is a policy choice. A choice to put guns over kids. We want every mom when they drop their children off at elementary schools like Hemenway, when they pull into this circle, and when those children go through those doors they know they will not be shot to death in their classrooms and they will come home.”
Strong local support: In attendance was Mayor Charlie Sisitsky and his wife Robin Kaye, State Representatives Priscila Sousa, Kate Donaghue, Danielle Gregoire, Jack Patrick Lewis, and David Linsky. Also in attendance was Council Vice Chair Janet Leombruno and Councilors George P. King Jr, Michael Cannon, Leora Mallach, Adam Steiner, and John Stefanini, and School Committee member Willie LaBarge.
Flags at Edgell Grove
Every year residents come together at Edgell Grove Cemetery to replace and place American flags on the graves of veterans.
How you can help: On Saturday, May 20 at 9:00 am volunteers are needed to help place 2,800 flags in Edgell Grove Cemetery. This is a great opportunity for scouts and families to serve the community.
By the numbers: This year 5,000 flags will be placed in Framingham’s seven cemeteries by volunteers.
For more information or questions please call the Veteran’s Officer at 508-532-5515.
Looking forward to seeing many of you on Saturday!
Charter Review Members Wanted
Hard to believe Framingham voted to become a city six years ago. Time does fly…and now it is time for the appointment of a Charter Review Committee.
What is the role of the Charter Review Committee? According to the Charter, the Committee reviews the Charter and makes a report with recommendations to voters for changes. The committee is established in May of every year ending in 3. Any recommendations must be received by the Council before June 15, 2024.
Who can be involved? There are 11 seats. The Mayor appoints 5 residents, and the Council and School Committee appoint 3 each.
How can I apply: Applications are due by Wednesday, May 31. You can apply on Framingham’s website.
What I am Reading
Should Framingham Unfiltered founder serve on city board? His approval provokes debate
There's another apartment building proposal for Waverly Street in Framingham
Framingham State holds inauguration for President Nancy Niemi
The Week Ahead
Meeting agendas are linked
Monday, May 15
Tuesday, May 16
Wednesday, May 17
Thursday, May 18
7:00 PM: Planning Board Agenda
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CIRCLING THE DRAIN: This massive influx FLOOD of primarily foreign kids has been occurring for over 20 years, but now is in a 'circling-the-drain' FAST downward spiral mode. The emergency fund is gone. MORE AND MORE illegal kids are being ushered into the city onto the public 'dole', with the need RIGHT NOW for 3 schools - RIGHT NOW. NO place to put them except in portable bins and units like small ghetto houses. More bilingual teachers needed - HUGE line item EXPENSE ON THE BUDGET.
The host population can't sustain the kind of tax increase that would merely be a 'drop in the bucket' for what is needed, since the city politicians can't seem to do ANYTHING but spend the money as fast as they can. AND that the new apt/condominium developments are on the south side??? Hey, you want this irresponsible expansion????!!! Head to the north side!!!