2009-06-03
08:53:41
A balanced budget for the Rainy River District School Board.
Trustees approved at their meeting last night, the budget which includes expenditures and revenues equalling almost 43-million dollars.
Superintendent of Business Laura Mills says balancing the budget was made despite changes in provincial funding.
"The benchmarks for text books was reduced by 15 per cent," says Mills, "and they are calling that a permanent decrease. Classroom computers, they're calling for a reduction of 25 per cent this next and a further 25 per cent the year after."
Provincial money for staff development and transportation was also reduced.
The budget, though, does show a $3.6 million dollars increase in revenue.
"Even though this looks like a really big number this year, it's not really indicative of what was happen. Last year when we were doing budget at this time, we did not have Mine Centre. So we did not have revenue for eight students. We did not have the expenditures for those eighty students."
Mills says the increase in revenue also reflects new labour agreements.
