The Hanover School Division’s board of trustees has approved the 2024–25 budget and things are looking more optimistic than they were one year ago.
Due to a funding shortfall and tax freeze under the previous PC government, the HSD board felt it necessary to cut a variety of services and programming, as well as the equivalent of 10.5 full-time teaching staff.
This year, thanks to the promise of additional funding from the NDP government and a nominal increase in the education tax levy, the board says that 8.5 of those full-time equivalent (FTE) teachers will be reinstated.
As well, an additional 16.8 FTE teachers will be hired due to anticipated enrolment growth next fall. Enrollment in September is expected to increase by nearly 400 students, which equates to five percent of the overall student population.
The new budget was made possible, in part, by a 6.2 percent increase in provincial funding over last year, which accounts for an additional $4,026,249 in the coffers.
To supplement, the board is announcing an increase in the school mill rate, taking it from 11.99 to 12.74. This reflects an education tax levy increase of 6.25 percent.
To understand how that may reflect on a homeowner’s property taxes this fall, the HSD board provides an example of a property assessed at $285,000. At this assessment level, homeowners will experience an increase of $50 on their tax bill after the 50 percent provincial government rebate has been received.
This year marks the first time since 2017 that school divisions in Manitoba have been granted the authority to raise divisional mill rates to help meet budget demands.
For HSD, the tax hike will help answer the issues of enrollment increases, negotiated salary adjustments, and increases they’ve seen to some of their fixed costs like utilities.
The two revenue streams will provide the HSD board with a total revenue of just over $132 million. With $12 million required to service debt in the division, this leaves the board with almost $120 million in operating revenue to allocate.
“The Hanover School Division strives to provide the best education possible for all children in our care,” an HSD press release states. “The 2024–25 school year budget reflects a mindful approach to the impact of local taxation while balancing the educational needs of school communities.”
