And there are so many people today like you making a difference as well. Um, she is here. The princess Harper Santiago is here. Our granddaughter, my son Anthony, and my daughter-in-law Siobhan. Uh, welcome their first baby yesterday. Everybody's well. Thank God. We are all very happy. Um, really qu last minute on the budget. So, I heard I heard a saying that a politician tells you what you want to hear, but a public servant tells you what you need to hear. Um, so this job we we we take an oath to do what's in the best interest of the students education. I'm a taxpayer, a property owner. The majority of us here are. We have to be crazy to be increasing our own taxes. Um, but the job is not or should not be uh definitely be here for my own pocket, right? Um, or my own benefit.
So, I mean, but that's all funded from the meals tax. >> Yes. Okay. >> And that again is the same sort of um you know, plan with that we just kind of talked about with the enterprise funds too. If we wanted to do an investment, if we wanted to make an investment as, you know, for economic development purposes, then that fund is is good to have there. And the incentive program, it's great to keep that going. So, >> okay. So, and we do have a a good healthy balance in that account. So, to utilize >> So, like to to be able to do more like whether it's events or whatever, you have that flexibility to to utilize that account. >> Correct. >> Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Thanks. So >> just going to mention the fund balance. Think of it as like free cash, like retained earnings, but because it's not an enterprise fund, it's called fund balance instead.
So we'll be sharing with you guys opportunities that you can sign up and join a classified member. So it's a great program we did 3 years ago and it was very successful. So um and there will be a hosted um evening that night at Nash's where everybody who was job shadowed and job shadowed will can come and collaborate together on what they learned. So I'm hoping you all can come join us that week as well. It's a great celebration we want to do about classified employees. >> Thank you so much.
I didn't run this for this job to be zero on the budget. if the needs of the districts and the students require uh more than that for a quality education, nor do we have a blank check. Um we're not here to throw money around and we don't do that. Um to me, the fiduciary responsibilities in to ensure that the administration is being cost-effective and responsible as well as providing a return on investment uh of the people's money. But um I see the taxpayer like a shareholder in a private business. Um, but the return on investment is ensuring that our students have the resources, the opportunity to become successful and functioning members of our society. We heard today Jenna Alnur, our student rep, getting a full ride to Cornell Ivy League. That happens very often, not not spoken enough, but happens very often. Um, we heard um about our autism initiatives.
>> Okay. If that makes >> I like to call it the fund B. No, I'm just >> So to that point, then it can be used for anything. >> No. >> Okay. >> Right. So just economic development. >> What's the criteria for its usage? >> Has to stay within the fund. So it can only be used for >> economic development activities. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> And now is that because that's that was tied to when we voted for the meals tax. Was is the meals tax tied to economic development or was that our choice in the town? >> No, we actually a couple years ago or how many years ago now? My gosh, it's flying. Um that's when we did the home rule petition is when we when we changed that over. Um, so the meals tax predates me. >> The meals tax you could use for whatever you choose to use it for.
Do we have any questions? >> No, but I I I will just say I know that Gail I'm sure feels this way too. I my paraeducators were absolutely wonderful wonderful supports in my classroom and then we had amazing campus supervisors and just CSEA CSEA uh I I'm certainly happy to sign off on this resolution. >> Uh could I ask a question Kelly? Um you said that there was job shadowing opportunity. How do we sign up? >> Uh um Mr. Allen he he'll be sharing that with you guys on how you it'll be a Google spreadsheet that we'll have out there and you'll be even given the opportunity if you want to come shadow a classified employee. >> Thank you. >> Do we have any public comment? All right. Is there a board member that would like to make a motion? >> I move approval of the um resolution regarding classified employee appreciation week.
We heard about Rocky the dog helping one of our students stay say her first words. Uh there are plenty of uh Clifton public school products um making a difference in all walks of life right now. Right on this deis the majority of commissioners are products of Clifton public schools. Um these are just some examples of the return on investment to the taxpayer um and as fiduciary responsibility as I see it. That being said, this budget remains a difficult decision, but that's why the people elect us is to listen, research, ask questions, and then make informed decisions with the students best interests in mind. Thank you. Good night. >> Thank you, Vice President Santiago. Um, speaking of the budget, um, administration has given me their word if we need to meet again, they're available. If you guys would like to do like we did with the vacancy, meet in groups, we could do that as well to have discussion, frank discussion.
Michael, I don't know if you want to talk about what it was. >> Yeah. So when um so we first passed the meals tax in 2013 and at the time um we said that we would use it for uh several different purposes but primarily economic development and um and the other parts were the library and uh the community center and open space and I think after and that's what we use to fund the engineering ing the 25% design to um which was necessary to get Mass DOT to take on the Pond Street project and pay for the rest of the costs. Um, and so I think it was 2017 or 2018, um, we went to town meeting and asked town meeting if they would approve dedicating that revenue stream for economic development and creating an economic development fund. And so when that was passed, we had to file special legislation because that was that had never been done before.
>> I will second. >> All right, we have a motion by member um Robinson, second by Vice President Olsen. Let's go ahead and vote if we don't have any further discussion. All right. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed? Awesome. This passes. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> All right. Um we already did that one, correct? I'm sorry. Mr. Shepherd, yeah. >> Yeah, I'm ready. >> Okay. I I looked at you and I wasn't quite sure if you were ready. >> I'm ready. So, I kind of want to do a you know, email replace all um that Mike said that'd be cheating though about the certificated side of things just because there's just so much passion. We heard a lot of humanity earlier in the conversation about the certificated teach teacher from Parkview and if we as we read these resolutions, those are the kinds of people we need to keep in mind as you know, cuz these these documents are are important um and it's great to be able to place a face with with what we're talking about here.
Uh I think everybody knows where they're going at this point. There has been really no no uh um hard, you know, mean discussion. It's been what are we going to do? And tonight we witnessed our return on investment. I I wrote down ROI. So, you kind of grabbed my words out of it to see from a from a parent perspective to raise a a general education student and a special needs student that if I if he didn't get what he needed to get from this district, I don't know where we'd be. And he returns that investment to you people every day of his life. and it's his ba base and it's his foundation and it's his roots where he came from that he does great things every day of his life. He puts his life on the line. But because Clifton gave him that foundation, he is helping other people and so is my daughter in her way too.
And so we had to file special legislation that had to work its way uh through the state house before it was into law. >> Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. You're welcome. >> All right. Moving right along. Again, thank you for the presentation. You did a great job. Thank you very much. Um, vote to close and post the May 6th, 2026 annual town meeting warrant. So, I'll entertain a motion. >> Do we should we discuss let's discuss the warrant before we we close it? Because >> well, I was going to open up the discussion with >> We should open it. We should we should we should discuss before we vote on it. >> All right. >> Yeah. Okay, then I'll turn to the my the to my right >> vote. >> Yes, I'm just gonna pull it up to share. I >> think that's probably the easiest way.
Um I also want Kelly to notice Kelly Searle that we made sure classified went first this year because we're going to try to alternate who goes first. Little things, yeah. And Charlie wanted to make sure everybody knew he's not missing this in any with any disrespect and um in mind it's that he's going to join us on the 22nd and he has only so many Wednesday nights away from his little kids that he can afford. So, uh he wanted to know that we sincerely appreciate the that they appreciate the recognition. Would any board member like to read this? This might be something we've never done before, but I don't have I don't have Mike Allen's voice. >> I don't either, but I'd be happy to read it. >> wonderful if you did. Thank you. >> Is that okay with you guys? All right, thank you so much.
She helps every every day. So I thank you all for that. And because you gave them what they needed because you didn't skimp on the budget, they're they're products of this community and I thank you for that. So my look on my take on is I have to do that for others. I can't see skimping on anything that when it comes to our students and if it takes us to uh buckle down, we have to buckle down. So I'm going to ask anybody that wants to meet, we'll meet. We'll discuss. If we have to do it in public, we'll do it in public. Whatever you guys want to do, I'm here like you all. We're we're we did a great job with the vacancy, so we're moving it forward. So, I'm sure that this board will come to come to a a solid decision on May 17th when we have to pass the budget.
>> Okay. Okay. All right. So, um now that it's all here, so I'll go through the Warren index or do you want me to go through the whole thing? I'll go through the Warren index. Um so article one town reports um article two is the transfer from general stabilization which we talked about earlier. Uh, article three is the transfer from this fed stabilization and then article four is our budget article and so that will list the budget uh that's within the budget document including the enterprise funds. So, just to kind of to because we're not having a separate warrant article about the override, >> the um the override, the budget that we're presenting to town meeting is the one with the override. Um, and so there's so because I think initially when we were looking at placeholders, it was a placeholder for an override article, but but that's not that's not what we're doing.
Plus, and I I get to editorialize now. Um I got to spend last week going to PV and Marsh and Citrus, and I'm well, I saw a lot of classified stuff, but I also got to step into classrooms and watch the magic happen, and it really It's been It's been so excited to see how different the instruction is at each site, but how passionate every single one of those teachers is, and how good they are at their jobs, and it was a great a great segue into this for me, thinking really about, you know, why we do what we do, and where the magic actually happens. Given all that, um the Chico Unified School District Board of Education for Teachers and Certificated Staff Appreciation. Whereas, a strong, effective system of free public school education for all children and youth is essential to our democratic system of government.
Um, but to see the return on investment with tonight with the autism presentation to know what the the therapy dogs are doing, you you can't put a price tag on any of that stuff. You can't really put a price tag on it. And for somebody to say that we're not doing our fair anything fair for the um the community, I look at I always say it's a triangle. The students are on top and then you have the taxpayers and you have the community. So it's the triangle we have to worry about every day. We have 11,000 students. How much almost 1800 1,800 employees that we have to take care of. That's our worry. These nine people that sit on this deis we have to worry about that. 24% of our population special needs students. Okay. The other the other 76% is our gened. So we have to worry about every single day.
So, um, just to kind of let people know, so they don't think that that it's like missing. So, >> Right. Right. So, we're doing the FY27 budget at the annual town meeting on May 6th. Uh that will include the budget that's listed in the budget document that has the line item for the 2.75 um override under the school department. Um and that will be voted on that night. And then there'll be the ballot question on May 19th to vote for the override. So the annual town meeting um when we vote on this article is is the appropriation of the funds. The ballot question is to vote um on the override. >> Okay. Um and we are I don't know. Do we want to talk about the whole structure of town meeting just as part of that? Like if that we're going to have we're going to plan on two nights of town meeting.
And whereas, the United States has made considerable progress in the social, technological, and scientific fields due to our system of free and universal public education. And And whereas, much of this progress can be attributed to the qualified and dedicated teachers and certificated staff entrusted with the educational development of our children to their full potential. And whereas, teachers and certificated staff should be accorded high public esteem, reflecting the value the community places on public education. And whereas, the Chico Unified School District is keenly aware of the importance and impact of teachers and all certificated staff on children. And whereas, it is appropriate that teachers and certificated staff be recognized for their dedication and commitment to educating students. Therefore, be it resolved that May 4th through 8th, 2026, be proclaimed Teacher and Certificated Staff appreciation week in the Chico Unified School District and urge all citizens to pay tribute to our public school teachers and staff.
Somebody asked me how many kids I had the other day. I said almost 11,000. And they looked at me like I said we have to worry about them every single day. We don't do the we we do this 247. We're all eating, drinking, and sleeping it 24 hours a day. And and I commend all of you to do this. I'm confident we'll come up to a good decision on the 17th, but I'm available if anybody else wants to get involved and we get a little down in the weeds and and discuss some more and see where we can come up with. Um, first off, I need to say condolences to Molly and this Molly Ciano, to Ricky and you. It's very hard to lose a fur baby. Um, it just it just takes a a niche out of your belt. To the Stro family, Bill, I got to know him at the 911 events.
>> Correct. So there'll be two nights no matter what of of annual town meeting. So the first night we will go through the articles as listed. Um and then after the May 19th um ballot question, um if that passes, um what we'll do is we'll go back to town meeting um and we will basically dissolve town meeting because the override passed. If for whatever reason um the question fails, we'll go back to town meeting. And if you look at the warrant, there's a moderator's motion number four, which is listed here. Um, and so if there's any sort of significant change of circumstances, we can make a motion uh to reconsider those budget articles. So the budget article and then the stabilization articles. And um and this was because if we were going to present two two separate budgets, it was incredibly confusing with two separate stabilization amounts and which one was the contingent one and which one was the primary one and just to make sure that people understand what they're people understand what they're voting for.