Letter: Taxpayer input is a necessity for effective governance

Published: 05-06-2025 4:37 PM

The Mayor of Franklin is requesting input from Franklin taxpayers regarding budget priorities using taxpayer dollars. There has been a consistent and small (30+-) majority of like-minded residents at monthly City Council meetings. The priorities of these attendees appear to differ from other hard-working taxpayers voicing their discontent on social media platforms. Social media is a dead-end for complaints. An elected official cannot use that input for more than informal consensus.

Elected officials need to hear directly from as many in the community as possible. This nation is waking up to budgetary downshifting at both the federal and state levels. Roads and infrastructure are what many residents are calling for in Franklin, but there is now competition with a bond for a $6.8 million project that exceeded the tax cap and is millions over budget in design. The mayor vetoed, as she was thinking of additional priorities and respecting the tax cap, but was overridden.

Currently proposed expenditures in competition with the 6.8 million dollar bond for Soldiers Memorial Hall are roads, a fire truck, schools, and the Trestle Bridge tear down and reconstruction “in kind”. If the community wants roads, the community needs to put that request in writing and send to the entire governing body. Take a few minutes to simply state your priorities.

Elected officials can be reached at their emails, which include their first initial, followed by their last name and @franklinnh.org. The mayor can be reached at mayor@franklinnh.org

Desiree McLaughlin

Franklin