Very helpful. Thank you for that thoughtful response. Although, at the end of the day, Framingham Public Schools and the Mayor have not been able to provide the most basic of services in getting its students to school. There seems to be no accounability for the people involved.
Thx for. Another fact filled letter. I do have a couple comments.
I don’t think the schools can continue to receive 7% and more increases. It’s great the state has provided extra funds but that should be away for the local budget to fund less in these times of slower economic growth.
It’s sad to me that the nurses at Metrowest Medical Center feel the need to unionize. Overtime that can’t be good for the community. However, the management by the tenant corporation continues to be an issue which isn’t healthy for the community or the staff at the hospital. I keep hoping that another medical operation will take over the hospital such as tough has already done with the heart center and the cancer center.
My previously wrote you about the lack of transparency in the community preservation act. I know that’s an involved process but it seems to need more publicity.
Yes, it’s sad that they town versus city split seems to continue in Framingham I don’t have an easy answer for that either I know all sides in that ancient Deb wanted the best for our community. However, continuing to fight, the old battle isn’t helping anyone
The development of the community center needs to be a high priority in the city. Likewise, some of the other park and recreation department efforts seem to stalled. What’s happening with the Mary Denison complex.
Sorry for the long message but you’re newsletter to invite such. There clearly is a lot to do. It
It does seem the city government needs some new blood. Too many of the city counselors have been at this for a long time.
Thankfully the 9c cuts the Healey Administration is making this month doesn't touch local aid or education. But we should all keep an eye on what the Administration's FY25 budget proposal includes when it is released later this month.
I eagerly await to hear from the Mayor's Office regarding the appointment of the Community Center committee. That project must begin asap so we don't lose that ARPA funding.
I'll have an update on CPA in an upcoming issue. I did write about the $9m request for the Athenaeum a few issues ago. Mary Dennison Park is underway, with Dennison paying a majority of the clean up.
There is a lot to do. And I agree about the new blood.
Thank you for the accounting on City versus State contributions to Framingham Public Schools (FPS). This is the second year in a row where less of my property tax dollars have gone to the schools. I'd like to raise the idea that the city may be stealing from the FPS budget in additional ways (beyond decreasing their contribution to the FPS budget). For example, FPS are still unable to get roughly 30% of the kids to school on buses. This has been going on for at least 3 years and FPS has done nothing of substance to fix this problem, it just get worse year after year. It's important to note that the bus company (NRT) provides reimbursement to the city for the routes it cannot cover....does that money go back into the FPS funds for the next fiscal year or does it go back into the city funds where it can be spent on non-educational expenses? I believe it goes into the city funds, but I am not 100% certain (I'd love to know). If so, this would represent an additional way that the city is stealing FPS money...and it's a lot of money. Is it possible that the city has no incentive to fix the bus problem since the bus reimbursement money flows back into the city funds? This is the conclusion I've come to since all other logical explanations (beyond gross incompetency) have been exhausted. Meanwhile, I see my property taxes increase every year (this year 7% over last year) with less of these dollars going to the schools and the bus problem continuing to disrupt the lives of a large number of families with school age children. Why would any working parent with a school age kid move to Framingham if they had other alternatives?
One thing to note: the city budget and the school budget are all the same fund of money. The school budget is like the Board of Health budget, for example, but the school's budget is a huge part of the pie. There are certain revenues, like Chapter 70 funding, that are specific to the schools and are allotted in the overall budget to go there. Can a city steal from itself?
To answer your point about the buses: In the current year (FY24), there is actually a deficit in the School Committee’s transportation line item due to the new bus contract. If you recall, the new contract was awarded as a result of the strike-related situation. That contract resulted in $1.8 million more than what was originally budgeted in FY24 for NRT.
Therefore, there is not expected to be a large amount of savings in this line item, even with the driver shortage. NRT does not reimburse for the routes it cannot cover. NRT doesn’t bill for work not performed. So there is no returning of funds because they are only paid for routes completed.
If a school department finds itself with a surplus, then it has to follow the process outlined in the Massachusetts General Laws. According to MGL, at the end of the fiscal year the School Committee decides what to do with the end of year available balance. Every year the plans for what to do with this end of year funding is part of the budget discussions with the Mayor and Council, as some of it can help reduce the ask in the next FY budget. It can go back to the city general fund, or it can be allocated to the next fiscal year for specific expenditures. Only certain expenditures can be obligated across fiscal years without going through the city appropriation process. Special education, and special education transportation are two of them.
Very helpful. Thank you for that thoughtful response. Although, at the end of the day, Framingham Public Schools and the Mayor have not been able to provide the most basic of services in getting its students to school. There seems to be no accounability for the people involved.
Another great consolidated update on the City and its finances. Thank you for the work you put into this.
Thank you Tara!
Thx for. Another fact filled letter. I do have a couple comments.
I don’t think the schools can continue to receive 7% and more increases. It’s great the state has provided extra funds but that should be away for the local budget to fund less in these times of slower economic growth.
It’s sad to me that the nurses at Metrowest Medical Center feel the need to unionize. Overtime that can’t be good for the community. However, the management by the tenant corporation continues to be an issue which isn’t healthy for the community or the staff at the hospital. I keep hoping that another medical operation will take over the hospital such as tough has already done with the heart center and the cancer center.
My previously wrote you about the lack of transparency in the community preservation act. I know that’s an involved process but it seems to need more publicity.
Yes, it’s sad that they town versus city split seems to continue in Framingham I don’t have an easy answer for that either I know all sides in that ancient Deb wanted the best for our community. However, continuing to fight, the old battle isn’t helping anyone
The development of the community center needs to be a high priority in the city. Likewise, some of the other park and recreation department efforts seem to stalled. What’s happening with the Mary Denison complex.
Sorry for the long message but you’re newsletter to invite such. There clearly is a lot to do. It
It does seem the city government needs some new blood. Too many of the city counselors have been at this for a long time.
Thank you David.
Thankfully the 9c cuts the Healey Administration is making this month doesn't touch local aid or education. But we should all keep an eye on what the Administration's FY25 budget proposal includes when it is released later this month.
I eagerly await to hear from the Mayor's Office regarding the appointment of the Community Center committee. That project must begin asap so we don't lose that ARPA funding.
I'll have an update on CPA in an upcoming issue. I did write about the $9m request for the Athenaeum a few issues ago. Mary Dennison Park is underway, with Dennison paying a majority of the clean up.
There is a lot to do. And I agree about the new blood.
What a fantastic review of what’s in store for Framingham in 2024
Well, at least I hope so! Not sure if the city will actually listen to my ideas... hahaa
Thank you for the accounting on City versus State contributions to Framingham Public Schools (FPS). This is the second year in a row where less of my property tax dollars have gone to the schools. I'd like to raise the idea that the city may be stealing from the FPS budget in additional ways (beyond decreasing their contribution to the FPS budget). For example, FPS are still unable to get roughly 30% of the kids to school on buses. This has been going on for at least 3 years and FPS has done nothing of substance to fix this problem, it just get worse year after year. It's important to note that the bus company (NRT) provides reimbursement to the city for the routes it cannot cover....does that money go back into the FPS funds for the next fiscal year or does it go back into the city funds where it can be spent on non-educational expenses? I believe it goes into the city funds, but I am not 100% certain (I'd love to know). If so, this would represent an additional way that the city is stealing FPS money...and it's a lot of money. Is it possible that the city has no incentive to fix the bus problem since the bus reimbursement money flows back into the city funds? This is the conclusion I've come to since all other logical explanations (beyond gross incompetency) have been exhausted. Meanwhile, I see my property taxes increase every year (this year 7% over last year) with less of these dollars going to the schools and the bus problem continuing to disrupt the lives of a large number of families with school age children. Why would any working parent with a school age kid move to Framingham if they had other alternatives?
Hi Jeff:
One thing to note: the city budget and the school budget are all the same fund of money. The school budget is like the Board of Health budget, for example, but the school's budget is a huge part of the pie. There are certain revenues, like Chapter 70 funding, that are specific to the schools and are allotted in the overall budget to go there. Can a city steal from itself?
To answer your point about the buses: In the current year (FY24), there is actually a deficit in the School Committee’s transportation line item due to the new bus contract. If you recall, the new contract was awarded as a result of the strike-related situation. That contract resulted in $1.8 million more than what was originally budgeted in FY24 for NRT.
Therefore, there is not expected to be a large amount of savings in this line item, even with the driver shortage. NRT does not reimburse for the routes it cannot cover. NRT doesn’t bill for work not performed. So there is no returning of funds because they are only paid for routes completed.
If a school department finds itself with a surplus, then it has to follow the process outlined in the Massachusetts General Laws. According to MGL, at the end of the fiscal year the School Committee decides what to do with the end of year available balance. Every year the plans for what to do with this end of year funding is part of the budget discussions with the Mayor and Council, as some of it can help reduce the ask in the next FY budget. It can go back to the city general fund, or it can be allocated to the next fiscal year for specific expenditures. Only certain expenditures can be obligated across fiscal years without going through the city appropriation process. Special education, and special education transportation are two of them.
Hope this helps!