THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF PORT COQUITLAM COUNC ——e MAR 6 1978 TO: Mayor and Council : February 23, 1978 FROM: . Alderman E.W. Mabbett At the last Council meeting I just mentioned my concern about the great increase in School District No. 43 taxes; particularly with enroliment on the decline. I wanted to get the feeling generally of Council, however not much was discussed, except that the explanation of the pupil-teacher ratio was given as not many of the taxpayers understood 18 -— 1: That it was taken on the total staffing of the schools, School Board Administration, etc. This no doubt is true, however in reading all the reports in the case of School District No. 43 it does mean 28 additional new teachers; bringing the total of teachers to 65 more than would have been required if the pupil-teacher ratio had remained at 19 to 1. In the year 1978 in particular with changes in the assessments due to the new Provincial Tax Assessment Act, we must all do our best to control our budget. As Mayor Tonn of the District put it, the School Board has shown irresponsibility in dealing with the budget, particularly by reducing the pupil-teacher ratio. I spoke to Mayor Tonn and Mayor Young on February 22, 1978 very briefly in regard to the School District No. 43 budget increase; both of them indicated their willingness to have a joint meeting, either between the three Councils or jointly with School District No. 43.