This session (1456) shares the FY 2026 first budget hearing held by the Franklin (MA) Town Council on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. All 9 of the members started the meeting in Council Chambers (1 left not feeling well during the meeting).

This session (1457) shares the FY 2026 second budget hearing held by the Town Council Meeting of Thursday, May 22, 2025. The budget hearing happens after the ABCC license transactions are completed. 7 members started the meeting (2 absent), 1 left during the meeting, leaving only 6 to make the final votes.

Budget hearing #1 recap ->

• Budget hearing process summary
• This first night, the line item summary for each of the departments is read aloud by the Clerk of the Council. As read, members can place a hold on a department line item for follow-up (question, comment, etc.).
• A few departments were held automatically by the Chair (Police, Fire, Schools, DPW, Facilities). Another 14 departments were held by one or more members of the Council.
• After the list of holds was confirmed, they started back at the beginning of the listing (account number order per voting document) to address the question for that item. Councilors first, then the Council Chamber community members, then Zoom participants, until all questions, comments were addressed for each item.

Budget hearing #2 recap ->

• The second FY 2026 Budget hearing was opened, after some discussion, it was continued to the June 4 Town Council meeting.

The Full Budget hearing #1 recording runs about 4 hours

The Second meeting recording runs about 2 hours

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Budget hearing #1

The Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/OBuOFLY5kZY?&t=184

The Council agenda and associated budget documents can be found here ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05212025-1752

My notes captured via Twitter/X during the session are collected in one PDF file

https://drive.google.com/file/d/11W1dMjvh9zB0X9Bqw8CgfLus5YZG7arZ/view?usp=drive_link

Budget hearing #2

Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/KxgDYAmr-zM?&t=95

The agenda and released documentation for this session -> https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05222025-1753

My notes as captured via Twitter/x during the session can be found in one PDF ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Zc-q92nV-paFAQ3DXWbqcucn-NRwRCVE/view?usp=drive_link

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