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The Canadian Champion, Friday, JuIy 15, 2005 - A3 «Public school board approves $354-million budget 1 Special To The Champion A hiring spree for 71 teachers will begin now that the Halton1 District School Boards 2005-06 budget bas been unanimously i passed. But somte trustees are fretting that next year's budget could lookg a whole lot different depending on how money is to be found to1 cover the cost of a lae-year $600,000 severance paid to former director of education Dusty Papke. He left the board June 30 through a negotiated seulement. Last week, aIl 11t trustees voted in favour of passing the $354-million budget, which is an increase of some $25 million over last year. Much of the increase -about $t7 million -is attribuîed to hiring an additional 42 elementary and 29 secondary teachers for the burgeoning school board, whose student population has grown by 11.2 per cent since 200 1. Board Chair Paul Tate said after the board meeting hes ecstatic the budget has passed, and that it bodes well for student learnfing in Halton. As well as the hiring of the extra teachers -al of them expected to be in the classroom in September - the board has also ratified another contract, this one involving custodians from CUPE local 1011. The board has also settled significant contracts witb elementary and secondary teacher unions within Ue last six weeks. "To me its very important we're getting our employees up to Use level where Uey are equitable wiUs Use rest of Use province." Mr. Tate said. "We don't have to worry about labour (strife) for a time and Uat is very good. We can live wiUssn Uis budget. I don't think we're gorng 10 bave too many serious issues. "I'm happy about Ue budget." However, trustees asked staff 10 explain how a deficit from Ue current budget year of 2004-05 - shown in Ue Uird quarter fmnancial statements tu be mure Usan $600,000 - could affect next year's budget. Carlo Kisko, Use board's outgoing superintendent of business services, said if a deficit camres over 10 Use next budget, "Use expectation is you find il in Use current year." The areas in which to fmnd Use money t0 pay off a deficit would include learning materials, information technology and facility services, Ms Kisko told Ue board when asked wbere extra fund- ing mnight come from. In an interview after Use budget meeting, Oakville Trustee Mary Chapin said shes upset at Use potential of having 10 draw down moines for vital needs lie maintenance. 10 pay off a deficit UsaI would include Use former director's severance. She said what makes paying a deficit especially tough is Use budget, when crafi- ed, il tight and provides little flexibility 10 account for large mon- etary increases during the year. "I'm seriously concemed we'll have to roll over a deficit when Budget up 4.1 % see REGIONAL on page A2 year, equaling approximately $21. Adding in Ue police service's numbers. the total estimated increase in Haton for 2006 is 4.1 per cent. Council also endorsed that next year's water and wastewater rate-supported base budget be made on the basis of a 7.2 per cent increase, not 10 exceed 8.4 per cent, subject lu further reduction as a result of federal and provincial contributions. When asked if she supports a 4.1 per cent tax increase, Regional Chairman Joyce Savoline said, "t (the increase) is a real cost. l'mn in favour of whal it really colts." She wenl on 10 say UaI if il takes a 4.1 per cent increase 10 run the municipality, Uen UaI's wbat's needed. "Would I like i (Use tax increase) 10 be lower? Yes, I would," sbe added. "t arn confi- dent UaI staff are always Iooking for savings in coss." She said she also thinka it's "wise and courageous" for elected representatives 10 apply real costs, even Uougb il may not always be Ue mot popular decision. The budget won't comne back 10 committee and council until November and December. Melanie Hennessey can be reached at mhennessey@milton- canadianchampiofl com. V -PlS. $601000XX deicit we know now is relatcd tb the directors depar- plan, she Icît il s nccessary thlit e new director ni educai, turc. By November, when we have lu revise (the budget), I expect il will look much different Uen il docs now." Ms Chapin is also bothered that Use board's transportation budg- et is unchanged from last year of around $9.9 million, and that the Province has yet 10 release pararneters of how Use construction of new schools will be funded - a pressing issue regionally. The board bas in ils plan 10 build four new schools, one each in Burlington, Halton Hilîs, Milton and Oakville, aI a cost of around $28 million. with an opening date of September 2006. Meanwhile, the boards 2005-08 $43.4 miùllion special education plan was deferred by a vote of 6-5 for approval until later Iis year. Some trustees felt they needed more time 10 digest aIl that was contained in the budget. Board Vice-Chair and Burlington Trustee Peggy Russell brought forward the motion of deferral, saying UsaI wbile she rec- wben bired, sbould have a say about the plan. She also felt the deferral provides more ime for input from constituents. Halton Hilîs Trustee Ethel Gardiner was against putting off approval of Use plan. "To defer this is an insult," she said. When asked by trustees about how applying for a portion of a $40 million pot of special education money set aside by the Ontario Ministry of Education might be affected wiUsout an approved plan, staff bold trustees il mighl impact allocation of Usose special dollars. In a speech tu the board prior tu the budget approval. Heather Holden, executive director for the Leamning Disabilities Association of Halton Inc., based in Burlinglon. felt the plan was- nIt visiunary enough. She said il should at least be a five-year plan Usat would better represent the needs of special needs students in Halton. 2005 ' ~ bfdu44Wt'VG '36,900 MSRI' 931 35 (3 f 33 LI1100 m(2 a s£ý O 1 % PURCHASE FINANCING ALSO AVAILABLE ON RAV4. TUNDRA- 4RUNNERAD SEQURIA- 400 Steeles Avenue 905 875-1700 www.mlltontoyota.com '33 ' ~ ~ ~5**'-i4~ï..'3,9~ ~ .12 200 coVOI4 lCE $17625 MSR.P Hy53I0 .(53 .i "'. J1 , 7 ".5-.k. 40 »", y,3 /3 33 $30000 MSI<P Hy 1211100 L.(3 Cd, 12 4LI100 k-. . 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