Framingham City Council Finance Subcommittee Meeting - February 5, 2026

The Finance Subcommittee of the Framingham City Council met on February 5, 2026, at 6:01 PM. The meeting covered the FY2025 audit, revenue discussions, the legislative delegation budget, snow and ice budget, and a crossing guards contract. The subcommittee voted on a snow and ice fund transfer, approved a crossing guards contract without immediate fund transfer, and discussed budget schedules and future agenda items.

Public Comments & Testimony

• One member of the public (Donakilcoin author) commented on a recent PowerPoint presentation, criticizing the blue background and white font as unreadable, and suggested the city council issue guidelines for clear presentations. They also noted the waste of toner from printing such slides.

Discussion Items

• FY2025 Audit Discussion with Matthew Hunt (CPA, Clifton Larson Allen):

  • Hunt presented on new GASB standards for compensated absences and risk disclosures, noting these are not expected to have a significant impact on the city. The single audit will cover federal grants: Special Education Cluster, Child Nutrition Cluster, FEMA reimbursement for COVID-19, Adult Education, and Title I.
  • Councillor King requested a management letter and analysis of debt service. Hunt expects the audit to be completed by end of March.
  • Councillor King raised concerns about the lateness of the audit process and suggested earlier meetings in the future. Hunt agreed to schedule meetings sooner.
  • Councillor Cannon asked about a recent $3.2 million revenue miscalculation that was not caught by the audit. Hunt noted it was not within the scope of the FY25 audit as it was an FY26 budget issue. The subcommittee agreed to provide details to Hunt for review.
  • Councillor King requested a review of whether employees were paid in accordance with the budget-approved salaries, which was agreed to.

• Revenue Discussion with Administration:

  • Councillor Cannon criticized the formatting of background materials, specifically the CFO budget book, calling it unreadable. Councillor Stefanini suggested using a consistent format (Munis budget book) to avoid confusion.
  • Councillor King requested a final FY25 year-to-date report and quarterly reports, noting the city has not received them. The mayor acknowledged the CFO vacancy and promised to work with a new CFO to improve reporting.
  • Discussion on free cash: $7.24 million in turnbacks from FY25. Councillor King asked if patterns could be used to tighten budgets. The mayor cautioned against blanket cuts.
  • Councillor King expressed concern over the school department's expectations of $10-12 million in new revenue, stating the city only has about $10-12 million in new revenue growth, and that the city cannot rely on free cash or stabilization fund to meet all demands.

• Legislative Delegation Budget Presentation (Lisa Ferguson, City Clerk):

  • Ferguson presented the FY27 budget for the legislative branch, including the city council, city clerk, and elections departments. The budget is largely level-funded, with increases for annual salary adjustments and postage. The only change is salaries and wages (up 6.94% for city council due to small base). City clerk budget has a 4.06% increase.
  • Discussion on the financial analyst (auditor) position: 12 candidates have applied. The subcommittee decided to review resumes and conduct interviews in executive session rather than an ad hoc committee.

• Snow and Ice Budget Discussion:

  • Mike Hoffer (Highway Director) reported that the city is currently in a deficit of $333,000 for snow and ice, and requested an additional $1 million from free cash to cover costs and prepare for future storms. The January 25 storm alone is expected to cost just under $1 million.
  • Councillor King requested a detailed breakdown of hired contractor costs. Councillor Stefanini moved to transfer $1 million from free cash, seconded by Councillor King. The motion passed unanimously.
  • Councillor Cannon raised concerns about sidewalk plowing, particularly on Hardy Street and Beacon Street, noting that some sidewalks were not plowed despite being near schools. Hoffer stated that the city follows a map that hasn't been updated in 15 years. The mayor defended Hoffer's work, leading to a heated exchange. The subcommittee agreed to keep the item on the agenda for further reports.

• Crossing Guards Contract MOA (SEIU 1156 Local):

  • Mr. Tosino presented a contract covering July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2028, for 16 crossing guards (only 7 filled). The cost to the city for the first year is $10,480.81, with a total three-year cost of $25,910. A transfer from the salary reserve was requested.
  • Councillor King questioned the need to transfer the full amount when only 7 positions are filled. The subcommittee voted to approve the contract but not transfer any funds until a further report. The motion passed 5-0.

Key Outcomes

• Snow and Ice Funding: The subcommittee voted unanimously to transfer $1 million from free cash to the snow and ice budget. The item will remain on the agenda for a detailed contractor report and future updates.
• Crossing Guards Contract: Approved the MOA but did not transfer funds; the subcommittee will seek a further report before transferring money.
• Audit Follow-up: Agreed to provide the auditor with details on the revenue miscalculation and to schedule earlier meetings in the future.
• Budget Schedule: The subcommittee discussed the revised schedule due to the 30-day extension, and agreed to invite the school committee to a joint meeting on February 24 to discuss revenues and the total budget.
• Future Agenda Items: The subcommittee will consider adding discussions on debt service, health benefits, the cemetery budget, the city solicitor's budget, and the Keefe Tech school project.