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Library budget, social media, IT and fire‑station repairs spotlight broader tensions in Franklin’s 2026 budget
Summary
Library director Jennifer Lovell asked the finance committee to approve a $1,497,050 operating budget for 2026 and outlined cost‑saving moves, including elimination of the Hoopla streaming subscription and energy savings from a recent solar installation.
Jennifer Lovell, director of the Franklin Library, presented the library’s 2026 requested operating budget of $1,497,050 — roughly a $29,350 (about 2%) increase intended mainly to cover cost‑of‑living adjustments. Lovell said the library has seen early benefits from a Johnson Controls solar installation, reporting ‘‘our electric bill today … was a $6,000 savings over the last year.’'
To reduce operating costs, Lovell said the library board decided to eliminate the Hoopla streaming subscription and will seek lower‑cost options for digital content. She also requested carpet replacement; text in the budget materials shows the library carpet dates from the building’s 2002 construction.
The committee then covered a range of citywide items that intersect with the operating and…
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