Um, also, thank you to so so much to the rock stars that we have in our district. are that that uh provide such a fantastic education environment for our autistic students to learn. Um you're you're the reason we're here uh to make sure you are successful and have what you need with our most some of our most special students. Um I also want to make a few comments budget-wise because we haven't done a lot of discussion on that. Um, the New Jersey Constitution has a mandate for thorough and efficient education and I just wanted to address one part of that. One is efficiency. So, here's some real numbers for Clifton. Um, the state average spending on students in Clifton, I mean in in uh uh in P County is $26,133. The average cost of student uh per student in Clifton is $22,322. Clifton has the lowest per pupil cost of all PI county municipalities.
There's a there's a lot of work that um that needs to be done. For sure. For sure. >> Okay. I'm sorry. I just had to get it off my s out of my chest. Just like we had trash. >> This was me. >> So that is >> we're good. >> Our last Enterprise fun. >> Any other questions on Enterprise? >> Good. >> No, we're good. >> Thank you. >> Awesome. Thank you. >> Thank you for the explanation and did a great job. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Stephanie. Thanks for coming to the mic. >> See, it wasn't that bad, though, was it? >> And then as far as economic development, >> sure, >> who wants to talk about that? >> Best got this. >> I was going to say, wait a minute. >> Okay. Do you have questions about this or do you want me to go would you like to discuss >> it a little?
And um, so I'm hoping as long as we have four board members, we can go through with things. We don't have to have that unanimous. >> If you have four, you're still just still need three yeses or three nos. >> Three yes. Okay. [clears throat] >> So, yeah, just it's still a learning process. So answer to a a point that was brought up, we do have a board policy. There are some exceptions, but we have a board policy that if you miss three consecutive meetings, you can be your position can be vacated. Uh we don't aren't at that point yet, but that is a board policy. So that's something we will have to look and see down the road. Other than that, I appreciate [clears throat] everybody being here. I know it's long. Yes sir. >> Does that include special meetings? >> Pardon me. >> Does that include special?
All those in favor signify by saying aye. >> Aye. >> Opposed? All right, this passes. Moving along, I think you have another one, right? >> Right. The last one for me uh tonight is the bid approval for the Citrus Elementary School Modernization and New Construction project. Uh it went out for bid on April 7th and we had four responsive bidders. The lowest responsive bidder was $12 million 150,000 dollars for United Building Contractors. Um which was a really good price. We're very happy with that. It's under our budget um quite substantially. Um so tonight we're asking you to approve the bid and allow us to enter contract with United Building Contractors for the Citrus project.
The highest cost district is actually one school P Valley at $35,000 per student and coming in close second PCTI at $28,000 per student. So from the point of view of efficiency, um I would say at least amongst our our immediate neighbors and if you delve even further and look in the state at districts of similar size to ours, we definitely meet that efficiency standard. Um as far as general taxes go in P County, there's 16 municipalities. Clifton's average taxes is $11,63. Um, out of the 16 municipalities, Clifton's overall taxes rank 13 out of 16th. Meaning there are only three other towns lower in cost than us. Those towns are Wanuku, West Milford, and Patterson. And the the delta, the difference between us and the lowest, which is Patterson, is $77. So we are also on average as a municipality u a pretty efficient pretty efficient system.
>> Yeah. >> Um, so our local meals tax, do you want me to kind of talk about the local meals tax and how we even come to these numbers? So our local meals tax, um, we receive those payments quarterly. Um, and we track them and look at percentage increases year-over-year. It does fluctuate obviously with the loss of Ericas. We saw a loss when Mazi left. Um, so we're we're definitely watching those, but we seem to we'll dip down one quarter, but we'll make up for it the next. Um, I think Starbucks has helped a little bit. So, um, we're hoping that there's a lot of new pizza places in town, so I'm hoping that that will stay pretty steady. It it has. I mean, it really got hit hard in COVID, so we're starting to see it come back, which is great. Um, so that's how we get this budget.
Do we have any questions? So since it's under budget, I know there are there there were some things that um aren't going to be touched it wasn't uh scheduled to be touched at at um Citrus and part of it is it can't be there's a weird thing about it being such an old school that you know, if it goes over a certain amount I know I I what's the percentage that there's like a golden percentage that we can't >> Right. There are several uh engineering bulletins um through the Division of the State Architect uh that won't allow you to renovate a building of that age um if the costs outweigh the replacement value, right? So we have strict limitations on the modernization of the older building to make sure we stay within those guidelines. Um since we do have some extra money, we will have to do improvements outside of our DSA project.
Um, you might have heard earlier when we had our report, our committee report, um 10% of all budget lines, remember this, 10% of all budget lines have already been reduced for the 2627 budget. Uh that is millions of dollars that we were taking out of literally everything, every area in this budget. Um and it still leaves us in a situation where we have a tremendous hole. So, I would just ask uh my fellow commissioners during the next week or two or three or however it is to the next meeting um please be sure to ask Mr. Huchi and Dr. Robert Toy all your questions about the budget where we're at. Um where we need to go. Um, but I like like uh Commissioner Kenova um are very concerned that even even if we give every penny we can uh even if we can do our full 6%, we are still going to have to make tremendous cuts uh throughout our district.
We go off of the meals tax and um, so what's broken out of this local meals tax is our permanent positions. Um, so that is a portion of um, so Clara, our communications coordinator, isn't is taken out of that. Um, Jasmine as well as part of my salary um, a portion of Jasmine's I should say. Um obviously the rest is pretty um typical. We do put in 80,000 for the business incentive program um and that is um still very much in use. Uh it is still a great tool that we have um in town and hope to have that continue. Um the holiday lighting is also taken from this budget as well that you can see. Um, and then we do have our events in corner spot. Um, which would be um Jill Seuss is our new pro programs coordinator. So, she's handling all of the in town annual events.
Yes, but we do have some things in the plan um especially the library classroom building, the older fourth and fifth grade. Um maybe some new flooring and lighting uh in there. >> Nice. I'm excited. >> Are there any other questions? Any public comment? All right, do we have a motion? >> I'm I move [clears throat] approval of the low bid by United Building Contractors. >> I I second. >> All right, we have a motion by member Robinson and a second by member Hayes.
Um that's all I have for this evening. Thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner Paris. Vice President Santiago. >> Thank you, President Bassford. Um, I might go a little over. There's a lot. Um, happy, uh, Arab Heritage Month and Public Library Month. Uh, public libraries continue to be a crucial part of our community. Autism awareness month. The city of Paic is doing an autism job fair this Saturday. The city of Paic on Pollson Avenue, they have a recreation facility and um, I'm going to probably attend. Try very hard, but I'm I'm pretty sure I'm going to attend. and I'm a member of the city's ADA committee. So, I've already we have a meeting Monday. I've already forwarded this and said, "Hey, what can we do to try and bring something like this to the city?" Because I've know I' spoken with parents and um you know, besides a job at the supermarket, you know, there not a lot of employers who um you know, make make positions available for um our special needs students.
Um, and so >> is that the position that's at the recck department? >> Yes. >> Yep. >> So, now that falls under the recck department? No, we still pull the events out of the um the local meals tax, the economic development fund because it is a it is an economic development tool. It's how we we bring people into town. It's >> what gets them here to spend their dollars here. >> So, it looks like we're spending we're going to increase the amount of town sponsored events. >> This was my question. >> Yeah. For this upcoming year. Can you talk a little bit about what that includes and and why we're budgeting more for it? Um, am I not looking at the right thing? Oh, >> yeah. So, everything is is it's just we're trying to stay competitive. We're trying to get new um acts in.
Any discussion? All right, let's go ahead and vote all together. All those in favor, say I. >> I. >> Opposed? All right, this passes. Thank you so much, Julie. >> Thank you all. Have a good night. >> Yeah, I'm just so thrilled that we're able to do for Citrus, one of our charming older schools, what we are able to do. It's It's just it warms my heart. >> Thank you. >> All right. We are moving on. Um Let's see, to Human Resources, and this um is going to be discussion action. Also, um resolution number 1720 -26. Um tonight uh will be presented by Mike Allen and John Shepherd. >> Thank you. So, um you know, I've been in my post for about 3 years now. I just want to say um the classified employees I I see do a tremendous job. They do a absolutely tremendous job.
So, something I'm going to try to champion and see. we have to research, understand what it is. But hopefully we can do a job fair in the future here, autism job fair, but that is this Saturday for for anybody who wants to attend. Um earlier this month, we attended the CJAL, the Clifton Junior Athletic League, uh baseball opening day and parade. It was President Bassford, myself, Commissioner Ishik Barnes, and Commissioner Ragsdale. It was great weather for a parade and for an opening day. Um there are more. There's going to be a Clifton Girls softball little league opening day Friday. May Memorial Park and then there's the other Clifton Little League baseball uh league on the 18th at uh 10:30 a.m. in Mount Prospect. Sunday there's the Clifton High School pancake fun Clifton High School uh softball team pancake fundraiser I'm going to attend. That's 8 a.m.
Um, so any performers that we have, it just that costs a little bit money of more money. We do Dragonfly Street Fair now. Um that event alone has increased our budget um tremendously because we have different performers. We have to pay for police and fire to or police I should say to be at that event um DPW to close off the road. Um so that event alone has um has caused an increase in events uh or money I guess need for events. Are you projecting that the costs associated with that this year are going to be more expensive than they were? Significantly more expensive. That That's I just want to be clear. I >> I do. Yeah. >> Yes, >> I do. >> So, it's a combination It's a combination of more events and higher cost for events. Is that right? >> That's what we're hoping for.
Sometimes behind the scenes, sometimes right in front of the scenes. Um their leadership at with CSCA, the unrepresented groups, the the classified management, they really really truly work super diligently and hard to make sure that our kids have what they need. And so, um this resolution here is to appreciate their endeavors and the work that they do for our district. And so, um the resolution 1720-26 is um a resolution for us to recognize classified employees week. Do you like me to read it? >> [laughter] >> Okay. All right. It is my pleasure. The week of May 18th through the 22nd, 2026 is hereby designated as classified employee appreciation week. Whereas the education of our youth is essential to the future of our community, state, country, and world. And whereas classified employees are the backbone of our public education system. And whereas classified employees work directly with students, educators, parents, volunteers, business partners, and community members.
Applebees. I have to because I have two nieces on the team, but I would do that anyway. Um Touch a Truck uh autism awareness we spoke about earlier. It's at the fire station on Brighton Road. Um, Saturday night, the culture night. Um, that was discussed as well. Tomorrow night, our board is being honored at the Boys and Girls Club gala um for our relationship and partnership we've had over the many years with Boys and Girls Club. Looking forward to celebrating. Commissioner Ciano, my condolences. Um, we lost a dog in the past as well, and I feel your pain. They are 100% like family. Um, Commissioner uh, Ragsdale, congratulations. You're welcome. And, um, you're right. You know, Senator McKeon, you know, a lot of times we talk about like, you know, young people, they don't know what do they know, right? And I'm so glad that he brought the history of so many of our founding fathers were in their 20s, right?
Okay. Yeah. Is this the entire um meals tax? Is the the entire >> What happens with the mills tax? >> It's goes into the revolving fund, >> right? But where um does the every dollar of the mills tax raised in Ashland goes comes back to Ashland? >> Yes. >> Correct. >> It's paid to the state and then the state cuts the check. >> Okay. I know we voted. >> Yeah. Right. >> So just to understand the um on the overview tab when we look at you know we we have um FY27 310. Um so for 290 is coming from the meals tax 20,000 is from the fund balance. the fund that we're talking about is is um >> that's the revolving account that has Yeah. >> Okay. >> that has the balance of Yeah. >> Okay. >> 490,000. Yeah. >> So, as as we've like um had really good quarters of meals tax.
And whereas classified employees support the smooth operation of offices, the safety and maintenance of buildings and property, and the safe transportation, healthy nutrition, and direct instruction of students. And whereas our community depends and trusts classified employees to serve serve students. And whereas classified employees, with their their their diverse talents and true dedication, nurture students throughout the school years. Therefore, be it resolved that Chico Unified School District Board of Trust Trustees claims May 18th through the 22nd, 2026 be the classified employees appreciation week. And be it further resolved that Chico Unified Board of Trustees strongly encourage all members of our community to join in this obs- observance, recognizing the dedication and hard work of these individuals. Thank you. >> I just want to say we've been able to collaborate and Chico Unified and CSEA is going to do a job shadowing that week as well as part of classified week.