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The Western School Division is in the final stretch of crunching numbers for a new operating budget.
A proposed budget of $27.1 million was presented last week during the division's annual exhibition.
After a break from the normal routine for a number of years, the Division brought the annual event back this year. WSD Superintendent Stephen Ross says the exhibition is a great opportunity for staff to showcase each school. "It's great to be able to do this after the pandemic. Each school has a station and a setup, and within that, there are different variations."
The exhibition highlights how the different areas in the annual operating budget are utilized and allows participants to ask questions and offer feedback as the board prepares its new financial plan.
The proposed plan for 2023/24 would also see the mill rate go down to 11.82 from 13.6 last year, which should translate into a reduction in school taxes for WSD ratepayers.
"School tax decrease is actually something that we have no control over," said Board Chair Brian Fransen. "But one of the challenges we have is that our community is growing at a rate faster than 2% and the province caps us at a 2% increase. That means that every year we are getting further and further behind in terms of the amount of money that we are able to use from the community to help support education in this community."
The proposed drop in the Mill rate would mean school taxes for a downtown business valued at $500,000 would go down by $714.35. A quarter acre of farmland in the RM of Stanley valued at $ 1 million would drop by $384.80. For a house valued at $350,000, school taxes would drop by $233.10.
"What we're focusing on, of course, is our priorities," added Fransen. "Our priorities lead us to spend money mostly on staffing. So with our increase of just under $1.9 million from last year, (Government funding) we are going to be spending over $1.7 million of that on increased staffing. Doesn't really leave a whole lot of wiggle room for other Discretionary spending in terms of other ways to improve learning and improve the environment in the division. We are using that money effectively and wisely and we are pleased with what we are able to do, but there is always more that we could be doing."
Funding for the proposed $27.1 million operating budget comes from the following: $18 million from the government; $8.3 million through local taxes, and just over $219,000 through other funding and supports.
2023/24 Proposed Expenditures:
Increased enrollment requires an
additional 5.625 FTE teachers.
Additional Vice-Principal time at both ÉMMS and MCI for next year.
A second Youth Support Guidance Worker
to support students at ÉMMS and MCI.
Additional funding for family counseling.
A 0.5 FTE Library Clerk at Maple Leaf
School.
Support to encourage students to make
healthy choices.
Adding secondary (rear) bus arms to school buses to
increase visibility and safety.
Inflationary increases on fuel, utilities, and insurance.
Investments in Information Technology devices and infrastructure to support
learning.
A 0.5 FTE Student Services Administrator position.
Reserve for Discovery Trails School, grounds development, and upgrading
