{"href":"http://player.captivate.fm/services/oembed?url=http%3A%2F%2Fplayer.captivate.fm%2Fepisode%2F01fd1fde-fe34-4f79-9a37-ed77fb186a60","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Captivate.FM","provider_url":"https://www.captivate.fm","width":600,"height":200,"type":"rich","html":"","title":"FM #262 Budget SubComm Meeting 5/04/20","description":"FM #262 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 262 in the series. \r\n\r\nThis session of the radio show shares the audio recording of the Budget Subcommittee meeting held at 4:30 PM on Monday, MAy 4, 2020. The meeting was conducted via virtual conference bridge to adhere to the \u2018social distancing\u2019 requirements of this pandemic period.\r\n\r\nCommittee Chair Matt Kelly opens the meeting. Everyone who speaks identifies themselves as they do speak.\r\n\r\nFY 2021 is going to be a tough budget year. It was going to be tough even before the pandemic. Post pandemic, with revenues forecast to drop by about $3M, just from the March 4 expectation (only 2 months ago), the revenues will pose some serious questions for how we will choose to operate.\r\n\r\nThe School Committee for example, has approved a budget $3.5M more than they got last year. They did so knowing they were not going to get it all, it at least was a priority listing for themselves to work through. When the schools do re-open, what will their process look like? \r\n\r\nHow will they maintain social distancing (assuming it is still required, and per current info, it is likely to be the 'new normal'). What will social distancing do to bus routes, to class sizes? To the budget? I don\u2019t want to speculate, there are too many unknowns. \r\nThe only thing that is certain, is that if ever, there was a time to be informed about the budget and town operations, that time is NOW.\r\nThe full show notes also include my notes taken via Twitter during the meeting as well as the agenda and associated budget documents released for this meeting.\r\n\r\nThe meeting runs about 28 minutes, so let\u2019s listen to the Budget Subcommittee meeting and hear the grim news on the budget choices we face.\r\n\r\n--------------\r\nWe are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm). \r\n\r\nThis podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.\r\n \r\nHow can you help?\r\n - If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors\r\n - If you don't like something here, please let me know\r\n\r\nThrough this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.\r\n \r\nFor additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/\r\nIf you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com\r\n\r\nThe music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group \"East of Shirley\". The piece is titled \"Ernesto, manana\" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.\r\n\r\nI hope you enjoy!\r\n------------------\r\nYou can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in \"podcasts\" for \"Franklin Matters\"","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://shersteve.hipcast.com/albumart/1036_itunes_1612724907.jpg"}