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Vol. 128 No. 50 Friday, February 25, 2011 Minnedosa, Manitoba Canada R0J 1E0 90 cents + tax

Budgeting for RRSD

in face of declining Hockey on the lake
enrollment a
challenging task
2.9% increase in proposed budget
By  AMANDA BOYD

R olling River School Division (RRSD) has released

its proposed budget for the 2011/2012 school
year.  In terms of revenue, the Province has provided
a 2.2% funding guarantee for all school divisions.  If,
however, any grants go up, such as Level Two and
Three support for students, that also factors into the
2.2% funding.  Other revenue sources that the govern-
ment provides will be calculated as part of that 2.2%
funding as well.  This provincial funding will not af-
fect any outside revenue sources, such as tuitions. 
Also factored into the budget’s revenue is the
Tax Incentive Grant (TIG).  The TIG has been offered
to school divisions for the past three funding years. 
The TIG for 2011 is $692,296, which is substantially
lower than the 2010 TIG of $763,891.  RRSD can con-
tinue to receive the 2010 TIG if it does not accept the
2011 TIG and thus decided to decline the 2011 TIG.
The RRSD portioned assessment increase is gener-
ally about 2% a year.  This year’s calculation is at 2.2%
and the rounded mill rate increased approximately 0.5
to 0.6%, an increase of 0.1 mills from 16.7 to 16.8 mills. 
This means the Special Levy increases 2.8%.  If a prop- Photo by Kathleen Ledwith
erty’s assessed value for 2011 has not changed from
2010, the property owner’s educational property taxes Minnedosa Lake was the site of the fifth annual Skate the Lake fundraising
will increase approximately 0.5%.  For properties who’s pond hockey tournament this past weekend.
assessed values have increased by 2.2% from 2010, By KATHLEEN LEDWITH fifteen minute periods of pond hockey tournament. in Skate the Lake. There
the property owner will pay an increase of about 2.8%. non-contact four on four Sunday was a little chilly, was great feedback from
What does this slight tax increase mean in terms of
program funding?  RRSD has several ongoing and new
projects it is pursuing over the next year.  This includes
T he fifth annual Skate
the Lake was held
last weekend at Lake
games. There were three
to six games played at one
time. The pavilion was full
but it did not stop people
from getting out there and
having fun. There was also
several participants, par-
ents and on lookers who
came out to cheer on and
the continued exploration of establishing a Wide Area Minnedosa. of people coming and go- a bar at the pavilion for support the great event.
Network.  The current technology in many of the schools Six sheets of ice were ing, socializing and just people to enjoy a beverage. All proceeds from the
has outgrown the Division’s connectivity.  As such, RRSD prepared on the lake’s sur- generally enjoying the Minnedosa Minor weekend will be donated
is looking at putting fibre in the ground to increase con- face, courtesy of the Town day’s outing. Hockey was posponed to Minnedosa Regional
nectivity.  of Minnedosa. All teams The weather held up for the weekend to allow Events Centre (MREC).
Continued on Page 6 played half an hour, two really well for the weekend the youths to participate Continued on Page 5

We will eliminate the confusion and 2I¿FH+RXUV

uncertainty that make tax time so taxing. 0RQGD\)ULGD\
Call us for a convenient appointment
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Contact Callie Mashtoler or Evenings Available by Appointment
John Mendrikis  50-6