Town `Fireworks’ Scheduled for Tonight

Talk of an ‘override’ to allow the town to exceed the maximum annual property tax increase of 2.5% voted by the electorate statewide 40 years ago, has been almost perennial in Franklin, only muted over the last few years thanks to massive injections of funding from the federal government.

Last year, the topic got more attention as those federal funds faded and a group called One Franklin took on the task of persuading a skeptical electorate to embrace more taxes and more spending. At present, according to town officials, paring of budgets, perhaps deeply, seems inevitable. And that is energizing the determination of One Franklin supporters to get an override, valued at nearly $10 million, before the voters as soon as possible, likely in June.

But the emerging skeptics, rallying under the banner of VoteNoFranklin, currently operating under the auspices of the Franklin Republican Town Committee but in the process of filing to become a separate entity, argue June is too soon. Not only does the June date require a wholly separate election process, at the cost of about $30,000, but the amount of state aid coming to the town remains unknown. More to the point, the town government has yet to formally make and approve a budget and identify shortfalls, making the scope of an override speculative.

Facts there are on both sides, and emotions, too.

The leadership of the town is offering the large High School Auditorium, starting at 7 pm, for the public to hear from and speak to both the School Committee and Town Council as well as the Finance Committee...But given the number of people expected to attend, comments by individuals will likely be limited to just one minute, according to a town official.

As to numbers, the pro-override folks, with assistance from the public schools that have strongly urged override support from parents, are likely to be a majority in attendance, though perhaps not at the ballot box if the measure gets there. The Vote No crowd is not small and includes many town employees as well as long-time residents, elders and low- and moderate-income individuals.

Historically, most of the override votes over the years have failed.

[A NOTE FROM THE AGENDA: All citizens are welcome to attend public meetings in person. There will be no Zoom option for this meeting; however, to view the live meeting remotely citizens are encouraged to watch the live stream on the Franklin Town Hall TV YouTube channel or the live broadcast on Comcast Channel 9 and Verizon Channel 29. Meetings are also archived by Franklin TV on the Franklin Town Hall TV YouTube channel and shown on repeat on Comcast Channel 9 and Verizon Channel 29 for those who miss the live meeting.]

Below are some voices on both sides of the question:

A letter to the Franklin Observer received Monday

Thank you for the article on opposing the upcoming vote and other town/state actions in today's edition of the Franklin Observer. Very frankly, I am always a bit suspicious when I see no name of a real person underneath. I suspect that, given your political views, you are a member if not the leader of the No vote. I find it a shame when people seek to remain anonymous. Then, again very frankly, I think it would be nice for you now to have a response from the Town of Franklin so that your readers can see the other side of the issue. My mother used to tell me that you can't always expect to get what you pay for, but if you don't pay for it you get nothing.

Samuel A. Oppenheim

CC: Town of Franklin

[Samuel received a reply addressing the above concerns regarding Observer]

Comments sent to Observer Tuesday from two individuals involved with VoteNoFranklin:

• Diana Bardsley, long-time resident

The push for a special election in June makes no sense in this time since the question can be added to the November ballot without requiring the town to spend money it claims not to have. Those pushing for a special election in June have not been transparent in their push for such. Most folks have been silenced by ONE. Since many questions have been blocked and left unanswered at this time to continue this rushed vote and expense is unwarranted. Therefore, I am not in favor of a special election for this override of Proposition 2 ½ in Jun and welcome the question to be included in our November Election – Diana L. Bardsley.

• Jane Calloway, long-time resident, registered independent

I believe the Town Council should not approve a special election. According to the Town Council and the Town Administrator, we are entering into FY25 in a deficit. If this is the case, then we have no business spending $30k on a special election that we could simply add as a ballot question to the November election. This would be a misuse of funds in a time when the town is financially struggling. We are asking the Town Council to vote no on the special election. --Jane Calloway