Finance Committee discusses fiscal policies and municipal grants in deep dive session
Franklin Finance Committee examined the town's fiscal policies and ten-year grant history. Chair George Conley questioned whether annual allocations for fire trucks and other equipment remain realistic as costs have doubled or tripled since policies were set five years ago. CFO Kerri Bertone
Finance Committee · Meeting of March 11, 2026
Franklin Finance Committee examined the town's fiscal policies and ten-year grant history. Chair George Conley questioned whether annual allocations for fire trucks and other equipment remain realistic as costs have doubled or tripled since policies were set five years ago. CFO Kerri Bertone presented data showing the town and schools have secured an average of 10.2 million dollars annually in federal and state grants over the past decade, totaling 112.4 million dollars.
Committee members discussed whether a dedicated grant writer could improve revenue capture, though Town Administrator Jamie Hellen cautioned that department-level staff with specialized expertise have been most effective. School Business Administrator Jana Melotti reported Title I entitlement grants are expected to decrease from 162,000 dollars to 130,000 to 137,000 dollars.
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Source: the Finance Committee meeting of March 11, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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