News in brief: Pembina Trails draft budget proposing 3.5 per cent school tax increase

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This article was published 17/02/2017 (3125 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Pembina Trails draft budget proposing 3.5 per cent school tax increase

The Pembina Trails School Division has released its 2017-18 draft budget, which proposes a 3.5 per cent school tax increase. 

The division’s overall operating and capital expenses are budgeted at  $169 million, a $6.9 million, or 4.3 per cent, increase in expenditures, officials say.

The division also says it is receiving 1.7 per cent less provincial funding than it did last year and that all increases in expenditures will have to be fully funded by a rise in school taxes.

According to the division, the average homeowner with a house valued at $398,444 would see a $75 increase in school taxes.

New spending will go towards “an innovative technology initiative” that will see students have access to mobile technology devices, the hiring of 30 teachers to accommodate an increase of 469 new students in September, and transportation costs associated with new communities.

The division is inviting feedback and comments by email sent to budget@pembinatrails.ca.

Anyone wanting to appear as a delegation at the regular board meeting on Thurs., Feb. 23 is asked to contact Emily Vickers at evickers@pembinatrails.ca to RSVP.

City holding open house on Parker retention pond and southwest rapid transitway construction

The City is advising that construction on the southwest rapid transitway is underway and work on the Bishop Grandin, Letellier and McGillivray overpasses and Parker storm retention basin will begin shortly.

The City is holding an information session  on Tues., Feb. 28 at CanadInns Fort Garry (1824 Pembina Hwy.) from 4 to 7 p.m. to go over the construction projects.

For more information on the southwest rapid transitway (Stage 2) project, go to winnipeg.ca/SouthwestRapidTransitway

For more information on the Parker storm retention basin project, go to winnipeg.ca/parkerSRB

U of M receives $1 million to support Youth in Care grants

The Joyce Family Foundation has provided $1 million to the University of Manitoba to help students who’ve been in the Manitoba Child and Family Services (CFS) system.

The donation will support the university’s Youth in Care Tuition Grants which enable youth currently in, or who have been in, CFS financial support to attend the U of M, according to officials. Since the Youth in Care Tuition Grant program began at the U of M in 2014, 30 grants have been awarded and 17 students are currently receiving support.

Acadia living patriotically

Students and teachers at Acadia Junior High School (175 Killarney Ave.) showed their Canadian colours on Feb. 15. The school decided to celebrate National Flag of Canada Day by creating a living flag with 750 students and staff in the gym.