The 2019–2020 budget for the School District of Mystery Lake has been approved.

 

The budget, which was presented to the public in late February, sits at $41,960,427, which is down from $42,734,725 last year.

 

The $774,300 budget reduction will mean $999,300 less for employee benefits, $17,000 less for supplies and $4,250 less for services. Despite the cuts, salaries within the district are set to go up with an overall increase of close $235,852.

 

The school district is set to receive $32,193,295 from the Province, which is up 2.6% from what they received last year. That announced funding could change, however, as the estimated funding could be adjusted in December or January. Last year, the school district received $1,050,603 less from the Provincial Government after the initial numbers were adjusted.

 

Kelly Knott, the division’s secretary-treasurer, says that the budget is affected by a variety of factors, including an increased demand for student supports. She adds, however, that their special needs funding has not changed since 2016.

 

16% of the school board’s budget comes from property tax, and with the mill rate for education set to drop there will be a 0.4% decrease in education property taxes this year.

 

The board of trustees approved the budget earlier this week, and will be submitting the document to the Province by the end of the month.  

 

The full budget presentation can be found on the School Board’s website by clicking here.