Prairie Rose School Division’s 2013-14 proposed budget contains a 5.8% tax increase for property owners in the RMs of Cartier and St. Francois Xavier, along with other municipalities within division boundaries.

This means owners of a house assessed at $150,000 will pay $54 more in school tax.

"There are no major changes to the 2013-2014 budget," said PRSD secretary-treasurer Agnes Gaultier.

The budget was to be finalized by the division’s board members on March 11.

The division received an increase of about 1%, or $136,000, from the provincial government, bringing the overall percentage of government funding to about 64% of the 2013-14 budget. Expenditures are expected to reach over $26 million and are based on maintaining current programs and services, salary adjustments and increases in utility costs, the purchase of one bus and support for school building repairs.

Current capital projects include roof replacement at St. Laurent School and renovations to Carman Collegiate’s theatre.

A report distributed at the public budget presentation includes a note about aging buildings. Gaultier said while there are no plans to replace any of the division’s schools, the note was added as an alert for the board members and public that the division’s repairs and maintenance budget will be stressed due to replacement of flooring, millwork, failing plumbing, aging parking lots and other components.

Like all other Manitoba school divisions, Prairie Rose will be required to adhere to the provincial initiative of reduced class sizes for kindergarten to Grade 3 by 2017.

"The 2017 provincial class size limits will definitely be a challenge for our division," said Gaultier. "The board is currently reviewing this as part of its budget development process."

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