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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday June 22, 2007 - 5 Campus plan nixed Plans to bring Halton Region, police and Halton District School Board together in one facility fell apart this week. After learning that the Province hasn't committed funding to the board for a new administrative building, regional council passed a motion Wednesday authorizing staff to investigate options to expand the existing Halton Regional Centre for Region and police use only. The original plan was to create a joint campus for both school boards, police and the Region on the Halton Regional Centre property, on Bronte Road in west Oakville. The Catholic board opted out of the deal last year, but the project kept rolling with the three partners -- until now. In addition to the lack of funding issue, councillors also found out that increases in project cost estimates -- from $79 million to $91 million -- mean the municipality and police would actually lose money by going ahead with the three-way deal. It was initially thought all parties involved would save money by coming together and sharing amenities like meeting space and support services. Region staff will now evaluate ways to meet the need for additional office space. These options include: · Sticking to the initial plan of expanding the Region's facility to the south, the police building to the north over the existing underground parking and slightly increasing the cafeteria seating area, · Constructing a new police administration facility either on the Halton Regional Centre property or at a new offsite location and renovating the current police building for use by the Region, · Expanding the police facility to the north and continuing to lease space offsite for regional staff that can't be accommodated at the Halton Regional Centre. Staff is expected to report back in the fall with a recommended option. Reserves used to balance books by Catholic board By Melanie Cummings SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Oakville's Natural Stone Supplier PERMA The Halton Catholic District School Board has balanced its budget for the next school year, but not without depleting reserves and disquieting concern. To cover an estimated $235.5 million in expenditures for 2007-2008, the board had to siphon $2.3 million from a classroom reserve fund, leaving only $228,000 behind. That worries Burlington (Ward 4 and 5) trustee Bob Van de Vrande. "How are we going to manage next year with reserves so depleted?" Board director Lou Piovesan and treasurer Paul McMahon share this concern, especially considering that September 2008 marks the end of a four-year salary grid laid out by the province. "We will have challenges in the 2008-2009 fiscal year until we hear from the province on the salary framework," said McMahon. Back in 2004, in an effort to prevent rotating teacher's strikes at boards across Ontario, the provincial government imposed salary caps with increases not to exceed 2 per cent for 2004-05 and the following year, 2.5 per cent for 2006-07 and three per cent for 2007-8. "Failing salary changes, we will be looking at cuts," said McMahon. "It's a bit of a guessing game." Further information on the salary framework is expected from the Ministry of Education in September. Piovesan urged trustees to closely monitor monthly budget reports throughout the next school year. "It would be helpful if some money were left over for next year but there's no way. We looked at tightening up where possible but there isn't an area we can cut out of this budget. We're going to have to use the $2.3 million and make decreases where possible," said Piovesan. Of that $235.5 million, $217.4 million will be used to pay for operations and $18.1 million will cover capital costs. The cost to run the board increased by $11.3 million, of which 84 per cent covers employee salaries including new staff for St. Christopher and St. Anthony of Padua schools, which are slated to open in September The board estimates student enrollment to remain steady. There was only a slight 0.2 per cent increase in enrolment at the elementary level, with just under 17,687 students attending, and a 0.1 per cent hike in the high schools that have a collective enrollment of 9,241 students. Contractor Referral Program Providing A Full Line of Premium Grade Stone Products For Pools . Patios . Walkways . Retaining Walls . Gardens On Cornwall Road, East of Ford Drive Ph: 905-849-5557 www.boulders.ca Monday - Friday: 7am-5:30pm . Saturday: 7:30am-3pm THE 2007 VOLVO C70. AT THE PUSH OF A BUTTON, IT TRANSFORMS FROM A COUPE TO A CONVERTIBLE IN UNDER 30 SECONDS. A 218 HP, 2.5-LITRE TURBOCHARGED ENGINE ADDS EXHILARATING PERFORMANCE TO THE ALREADY LUXURIOUS STYLING. FOR MORE DETAILS, VISIT US TODAY. 5.5 2007 VOLVO C70 % $ * 736 LEASE PER MO. LEASE RATE 48 MOS. W. BRONTE RD. PACIFIC RD. Q.E.W. E. 3RD LINE SOUTH SERVICE RD. WYECROFT RD.