>> dropping it in the mail. I'm just looking at >> Yeah. So, >> I'm just looking at a number of >> Are we >> $22,500 worth of stamps, which >> Oh, my guess is >> they have a machine. >> I know it still seems like a lot of money. >> It is, >> you know, you can see they generally around 17 or something. >> But you're also got to look at it this way because a lot of people in Greenfield change their email address a lot of times. It's like their phone numbers. So, you're paying somebody to sit there and update email addresses as well. The only benefit of of mailing stuff is when they come returned, then you know that >> then you make a phone call to see if the people have moved. Um, it's kind of my own personal residency check. What we've so what we've >> no I'm not just I'm not just saying it has changed a lot of >> that's a good point.
It's not going to happen. I'll do I can do my name. We're kind of >> I'm like it's already facing that way. >> Does that work? >> Are you on the screen? >> Yes, I'm on the screen. Oh, is it my turn? >> Okay, >> Ann, you are right. That is the process. And I kind of don't know why everyone's feeling such drama tonight because this is the time when we just do what our superintendent has told us is appropriate educationally and nobody has rosecolored glasses on. We all know what comes next and that's the hard part. Like the drama comes in a little bit. Not not tonight. This is just what we wish and dream and hope for and it seems modest. It seems in line with every other budget that I've seen us do. It's not excessive and I know that we're not going to get that.
Um, but in year one it's going to cost us $55,000 and that's that that's net. We had EAC salary advancements that we didn't realize for 49,000 other salary adjustments for $29,000. So from the time that I presented to you that 6.7 I had to add in $438,000 after I presented. and $438,000 is about a percent and a half. So from when I presented to you in December to when I had it present to you in February, I had to figure out $438,000 which was it brought our budget actually above seven and a half. So to come back down to the 6.67 67 or the 5.92. We had the retirement incentive. The the town worked with us that was mentioned at the board of finance thinking that they gave us the revenue for uh preschool tuition which is offsetting in their budget and it it's it's not revenue for them.
Yep. Yes. All right. Thank you, Chair. Percentage that we're talking about on food, does that include like breakfast and other snacks that the schools are now giving out? Uh it's for all meals, yes. >> all meals. Okay. Um what percentage now of the students with the bills that we passed uh with free and reduced lunch now getting free meals and then next year with the Alice, what percentage of the students will we covering for free? So, currently the total number of meals that we serve per year um 11 million of those meals are free. >> [cough] >> 7 million are paid. And about 1 million are reduced. So, this year those 1 million meal or reduced meals are free. And then next year Let me get back to you on that. I have the figure, but um we do have the Alice students for next year.
Available for questions. Thank you. Okay, thank you. Uh Tia Hartsock, Office of Wellness and Resilience. Okay, standing on testimony support. Thank you. Jai Jai Jesima? Did I say that correctly? On Zoom. I'm sorry if I got that wrong. No problem. Uh my name's uh Jai Jesima. Chair and members of the committee, I'm testifying in support of House Bill 1782. I'm the founder of Transparency Coalition. We're independent nonprofit, which advocates for increased transparency and accountability in generative AI. I have 30 years of tech industry experience as a CEO and executive in multiple AI technology companies and have a PhD from University of Washington. Uh we've been working with lawmakers in over 20 states that have already uh that are in the process of passing laws very similar to House Bill 1782. Uh and um I'm also very pleased to report that yesterday the governor of Washington signed a bill very similar to 1782 into law.
So there will be a little bit of of concern but I think if we talk to people from the beginning or remind people that they can plan accordingly >> and this is for next year. >> This for next year. So, so the contracts that would go out would change the date >> by by one day and then the school calendar that's on the website. It doesn't affect kids in any way, shape or form, but we have employee information on that calendar too. We would then change that to reflect the new date and it's just like I say, they start one extra day in July and they end one extra graduation and the last day for teachers is the 27th. Is that right? Is that what we're looking at? >> No, we're looking at the 26th would be graduation and the 26th would be the last day for teachers.
Jenna Cummings, media arts teacher from Santa Cruz Elementary School. Katie Taft, kindergarten paraprofessional, Santa Rosa Elementary School. Christopher Monclopaz, ELA teacher, Desert Wind Middle School. Heather Zerbel, speech language pathologist and ESS PLT teacher from Maricopa Wells Middle School. Ashley Embry, CTE teacher, EMS from Desert Sunrise High School. >> [applause] >> And Kevin Struble, math teacher, department chair, Maricopa High School. >> [applause] >> Brittany Austin, ESS teacher, Maricopa Virtual Academy. >> [applause] >> And Nancy Powell, purchasing specialist from Business Services. Congratulations again to these outstanding spotlight employees. And now, we are thrilled to honor our spotlight students of the month. Each month, school principals select these remarkable students for their outstanding commitment to their education, their school, and their community. These spotlight students exemplify Portrait of a Graduate by being communicators who listen, collaborate, and share ideas clearly, innovators who think creatively and solve problems, resilient achievers who show determination and perseverance, critical thinkers who analyze and challenge the status quo, and principled leaders who act with responsibility and character.
So as you saw salaries are the biggest driver. So the next slides are going to be about our expenditures relative to that. It's these also kind of tell you how to read the slides. So what these are going to be is a graph from FY 20 FY 14 through 25 typically and and a trend of our expenditures. So that will be the blue line and then there's a green line that that is starts at the same spot and does a annual 2.5% increase. Just a rough approximation of what prop 2.5 will allow. Obviously it's not ever just that. There's new growth involved but choosing that is if I try to choose another number it would be somewhat arbitrary. It is higher but it's not substantially higher obviously if it's 3% or 3.5% it would wouldn't change the shape of the of the graphs at all.
So what we've done that is at times and done that like you mentioned spor sp sp sp sp sp sp sp sp sp sp sp sp sp sp sp sp sp sp sp sp sp sp sp sp sp sp spororadically on purpose a few times a year like >> well if you have a kid who has been gone for like 10 days yeah be sending a letter being like hey we haven't heard from you we've been calling where are you >> well no there's a lot of parents who don't don't understand school choice >> they think school choice means they can drop their kid anywhere there are a lot of parents in town who just drop their children in Greenfield out of school and they think their school choice choicing and sometimes the only way we find that out is with a returned envelope and a phone call that says, "Oh, I moved to Turners a couple months ago." You know, I mean, it's it's real.
We all know we're not going to get it. So, just so everyone is really clear on that. So, I don't feel the need to grandstand about it or uh complain about it. I'm just thankful that that you did it and that it was so modest and succinct and transparent and I appreciate that and I'm glad that we all understand the process and that you said the process so that everyone at home playing along can follow. Um, and I guess we'll see what happens. But I just want to say that when you're continuously underfunded every year, you're not getting what you need. And that's just how it is. And so we're just on this underfunded wheel that's just going to keep going and keep going until we change Chapter 7 funding and until we get more aid from the state. And I hope that we can all be on that project together as we move forward.
Um so that's really good partnership. We brought in $108,000 more of revenue for bridges. There's been often times to think creatively about programming that we could save money. So, we have bridges. Um, small capital. We reduced $50,000 from our small capital at that time. Special education uh changes. Mrs. Robbins did an excellent job doing a census for our health insurance. So I reduced $420,000 from what was over 7%. Am I communicating that where where we are? So we landed at 5.92 and when I look at the 5.92 number and this is in great partnership with the town that we took on some of the the the staffing from the the the town and I appreciate that the the CEO and the the first selectman realized that they were town employees but they were doing all work for the board of ed. So, their salaries and there were some adjustments in their salaries relative to where we are as a board of education and we moved it over to the board of education side and and it wasn't just this year, it was last year.
>> over with the with the reduced and the um >> [clears throat] >> the Alice? The Alice. For the the cost that's being subsidized? Yes. I believe um for this year we were allocated I'll get back to you with the exact figures, but I think it's about a million dollars for the reduced. And next year for Alice we're allocated about 500,000 for that. Okay. So, where does that money come from? Um Well, that was that was allocated. We allocated all of that money. Yeah. Yes. >> [clears throat] >> So, that's, you know, I know everybody wants free lunch for everybody, but somebody's got to pay. And where is that money going to come from? It's not going to come from it's going to come from K-12 somehow. It's got to come from your budget, right? And if it comes from your budget, what does that mean?
Uh since we only have a minute, I'm just going to hit a few themes that we are really excited about. One is the requirements for transparency and disclosure in the bill. The prohibitions on emotional manipulation of minors. The requirements that chatbot developers implement a protocol for responding to suicidal ideation. The requirements to provide parental controls. On the topic of enforcement, I just want to highlight the importance of the private right of action. It's an important regulatory tool and in my Thank you, Jai. We do have your written testimony. I'm sorry. Thank you. Okay, next up is Dave Erdman from the Retail Merchants of Hawaii. Good afternoon. Aloha. Aloha. Aloha, chair, vice chair, committee members. My name is Dave Erdman from the Retail Merchants of Hawaii. We appreciate the intent of HB 1782, HD3, to protect minors. We respectfully request continued continued clarity uh that routine retail customer service AI tools are not unintentionally captured as they are task specific and um not designed to create emotional relationships.
>> So, which calendar am I looking at? 26. >> Right now, it shows that. That's why we have to make this the calendar we have right now shows it that way. This agenda item. If you approve it, we will then change those calendarers and upload the calendar with the new with the new stuff on it. >> Did you see the second one? >> And honestly, I mean, we would come back late from graduation. You know what I mean? like we would celebrate and then we would usually not come on time the next day anyways and then stay here a couple hours and check out. So, it's I don't think it's that big of a deal. Like you said, I I think that people would kind of be nice to wrap it up and be done >> as a possible solution for those that may not love it and want it to stay the same way.
These students set the bar high and shine as role models for their peers, their schools, and our entire school district. Congratulations, spotlight students. As I call your name, please come forward to receive your certificate and give a quick fist bump to the governing board and Dr. Lopeman and then head to room 123 for a group photo. Mr. Harmon, give us another wave. There he is. Okay, congratulations to Bria McGee, kindergartner from Butterfield Elementary School. Bria shows what it means to be a bobcat by treating others with respect and staying committed to learning each day. Jessica Zabala, fifth grade student from Maricopa Elementary School. Jessica brings the Portrait of a Graduate to life through teamwork, responsibility, and thoughtful effort in her work. Lael Sokai, kindergarten student from Pima Butte Elementary School. Lael leads with a big heart, consistently supporting her classmates and creating a welcoming classroom environment for everyone.
And then there's an orange dotted line just to try to show in the same kind of context of percentage what an annualized percentage would be that's close proximity to our actual expenses. So these are our salaries and and how they they relate to that line. Two bullets at the bottom. I always try to understand this is general fund expenditures. We do pay about 1.5 million dollars of salaries out of grants and and other other funding sources. Uh and I try to keep it simple. Uh the this the primary drivers of the shape of the line relate to our steps, lanes, and quotas, right? Um So, and just uh I couple this with the next slide to put some context to this. So, the next slide next slide talks about our per pupil expenditures. And this is FY24, which is the latest data from the state.
Um, and sometimes we have a seat so we can work it out, you know. Um, but those conversations need to happen because a lot of people really don't understand what school choice is. I mean, that's a big deal. So >> you have more questions you >> I don't >> No, the rest of mine is just like brainstorming possibilities. I don't >> Well, I apologize for the length of it. It came out of quite a few conversations I had. >> All right, go in. >> Okay, so biggest topic was the revolving accounts. Um, something that people really liked hearing was that the high school's cut wasn't really a cut, but funded by circuit breaker. And so a lot of people >> choice choice. Okay. Sorry, I got that wrong. Basically, people were interested in knowing what we were funding from where revol with the revolving accounts.
Oh, look at that. There's everyone. Jeff, did you have anything to add? Do you want to go after Stacy? >> Sure. >> Okay. Um I I feel everyone in this room I feel like we're sending a really hefty number over where we could have probably made some adjustments. We're sending a level service fluffed budget as I like to call it with a few extra positions, but I also understand it is a process and there are steps involved and hopefully we can move the process along even though we all have very strong feelings and know we're not going to get funded and know we want to get funded. Um, and we also know we don't want people's taxes going up either. So, it's like a it's a balance is how I'm looking at it. Sorry for being a bit emotional about what I'm talking about. >> It's an emotional thing when we're thinking about the education of our students.
It was two employees this year, two employees last year, but it was a good partnership. That in itself was approximately 04%. So, if we didn't have that, we'd be looking at like a 5.4% um budget. So, now we're faced with, as we went the other day, that we're at a 6.67. That that is our number. That is the the number that is in the books. Uh now, we're at the point of that we need to make a recommendation to you tonight of $200,000. And one of the things that this administration's tried to do the the best that we can is really listen to public comment and really listen to the board of finance and listen to you. And as we all know, enrollment is going down. I I I've not said in in the years that I' I've been here the past three years that enrollment is going up.
Some place got to be cut. Correct. So, I hope people understand that when they're looking for free meals for everybody because it's not sustainable. You know, it's just not sustainable and with the food costs and the labor costs, it's like at home, you know, how are you going to pay for stuff? It's like, "Oh, government's going to pay." But guess what how we government gets the money from? From you, from the taxpayers again and, you know, businesses and so forth. So, it is a cost that has to be balanced. We want free college, we want free child care, we want free preschools, you know, and and somewhere somebody's got Somebody's budget's going to get cut, right? So, we can pay for it. And so, hopefully DOE, as you come forward, whatever you guys [clears throat] are asking for more positions, more money, free this, tell us where who you're going to cut.