Despite a reduction in spending, school taxes will increase in Border Land School Division in 2017. Trustees have approved a 35.7 million dollar budget for this year which represents a 2.3 million dollar reduction in spending from 2016, however, the school mill rate is still scheduled to rise.

The cost cutting measures included the elimination of 2.5 teaching positions, extending Border Land's technology refresh time frame from a four year cycle to five years, and cutting some additional technology initiatives. Trustees also 

Rachel Geirnaert removed an additional $500,000 for the W.C. Miller gym project, $400,000 for maintenance projects, and $500,000 in the bus reserve contribution, according to Secretary Treasurer Rachel Geirnaert.

"There was a lot of discussion and a lot of hesitation in  some of these areas because we know there are reoccurring costs that we are postponing to the future. However, the board thought it was important to try and reduce our budget to help out our taxpayers," said Geirnaert.

Trustees have reduced the school mill rate for the past three years, but that will change in 2017. The rate will jump from 14.96 mills to 16.90 mills, an increase of almost 2 mills. That may result in a hefty school tax increase or it may not. It all depends on where you live and the assessed value of property in that particular area of Border Land. For example, a home with an assessed value of $200,000 would see a school tax increase of $175 per year.

No large capital projects have been cancelled in this budget and trustees remain hopeful that construction on a new gymnasium for W.C. Miller Collegiate will proceed.

"We are still waiting for a funding announcement from the province," said Geirnaert. "We did leave $1 million dollars in reserve funds for this project in the hope that approval will come through. Should that project proceed in 2017/18, then we would look at transferring that $1 million back to the taxpayers and apply it against our special requirement."