SRSD tables 2019-20 budget

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This article was published 01/03/2019 (2625 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Some taxpayers in the Seine River School Division could buy a Starbucks grande latte with the money they will save on the educational tax levy for 2019-20.

SRSD superintendent Mike Borgfjord said the owner of an average home within the division assessed at $276,000 will see a decrease of about $4.60 on their 2019-20 tax bill compared to the rate paid in 2018-19.

The division includes La Salle School, St. Norbert Collegiate, École St. Norbert Immersion, Parc La Salle School and La Barrière Crossings School.

The division’s total 2019-20 budget is approximately $55.4 million compared to approximately $54.2 for the current school year — an increase of about $1.2 million. The trustees approved the draft budget on Feb. 26 but Borgfjord said spending adjustments are still being made.

Divisional spending for student and instructional support services is set to go up by about $576,000 and Borgfjord said this shows the division’s commitment to providing support for students with special needs.

“A big emphasis is on inclusion for students who need support services,” he said, adding that funding for a speech-language pathologist and occupational therapist is being worked on.

However, shifting money to one area means taking it from somewhere else. One of the reductions in the 2019-20 budget comes from eliminating an IT manager’s position for $71,500 in savings.

Borgfjord said SRSD’s 2018-19 revenue increased due to a 3.4 per cent jump in enrolment, with another approximately 1.5 per cent or about 67 new students expected to enroll in September.

While more students mean more provincial funding, higher enrolment also brings increased student and staffing costs, Borgfjord said.

“Our budget process is always challenging.”