Excerpts of a speech education minister Tony Brummet made to school trustees Jan. 31 When [ became Minister of Education,. government had already decided to return local taxing aithority. to school boards by allowing supplemen- tary spending above the provin- cially funded basic program covered by the ‘‘Fiscal Framework". Boards would be wholly responsible and accountable for that additional spending to their local residential taxpayers. In that first year supplementary amounts were held somewhat in check by boards. Then it happened — the sup- plementary amounts grew dramatically from $66 million in 1986/87 to $238 million this year (up-261 per cent). This year over last year alone it is up 112 per cent. Although government grants TERRACE — A referendum system to restrict school board budget increases threatens to play havoc with contract negotiations, Terrace District Teachers’ Association president Greig Houlden says. “Tt basically takes away the last vestige of locai fiscal con- trol from the school boards,’ Houilden said. “I can see grave problems. for local schaol boards in meeting their obliga- tions to provide quality educa- tion if they have no source of discretionary funding,” He was responding to a new system of school board financ- ing announced by education minister Tony Brummet last Wednesday that effectively caps school board budget increases at roughly six per cent, If Ter- Tace’s school board wants to in- crease its budget by more than six per cent this year, it will have’ to get approval. from local tax- payers in a referendum that Page A2 ~ Terrace Standard, Wednesday, February 7, 1990 Education plan outlin “Tony Brummet increased Significantly throughout this period, they could not possibly keep pace with such spending patterns. As.a result, residential taxes have increased dramatically, and the resulting taxpayer Teachers abhore spending vote would be held the first week of April. ‘Houlden - said the system could complicate the school board’s approach to bargaining with the teachers’ union. “The scenario really boggles the mind,'’ Houlden said. He questioned what would happen if the school board had to go to 4 referendum to get money to pay for teacher salary increases it negotiated with the union. “If it was rejected, where would we stand?” he asked, “The board would be faced with an impossible situation. What would they do? Would. they stop heating the schools, would they lay off the custodial staff, would they shut down the bus system? H’s a scenario that’s really difficult to. con- template,” “How could the board even negotiate | if the prospect exists that thé cdritract they sign cotlld" be “invalidated . “by n ae referendum?” “be demands for better control have become loud and clear! Because of the difference ‘in school district budget years and the calender tax year, we aré heading into the 1990 tax year with an automatic 15,6 per cent average tax ‘increase based on— your budget decisions for the 1989-90 school district budget year, This is without any in- crease to your present budgets. The fiscal framework has been increased by 20 per cent in - the. last two years, and school board spending has increased by 25 per cent on average across the province in these same two years, Obviously both increases far exceed any economic indicators and such a rate of increase can- not be justified on a continuing. basis, nor is it acceptable to tax- - payers based on the reactions we get,, -J have always been’ an ad- vocate for local autonomy. But . Tepeatedly 1 have stated that I believe, very strongly that with local autonomy goes local _ Tesponsibility and accountabili- ty. Though many~- have agreed Hanky Panky's fabulous 1. Ladies gold ring 4620 (NS .s, Lakelse Ave. ‘minister, myself an ‘Come and Celebrate ate With: ‘Us! : : the chance to win one of these 3. A romantic evening far two at the Inn of the West WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1990 “with this concept, : ‘the, essag from the boards has. been that: “the reason local taxes’ are.so° high is because the provincial government does riot provide "|. enough money and we therefore. f "| 8467 Highway have to raise local taxés."") In other words, when. spen-. ding continues well above ‘the’. f.. increased grant revenue the-tax © effects of local decisions are to. te be blamed on the province, -°: pa : “Before " lost 70 Ibs. | “wallflower.” This - campaign of deflection has -apparently: been quite -suc- ” cessful because we. are being ~ blamed at the provincial level. both for increasing taxes, and | for giving to boards the right to levy taxes at the local 'level. Taxpayers ‘are calling on government to control. school taxes by increasing funds and by ~ controlling ‘ the: gpendir ‘school boards. - *% At the current rate ding we are going“to very: real . threat 0 revolt, ‘The prem have all been besieged by letters protesting the continuing tax in- creases and demanding that government take action. , is giving you. — . prizes! 2. Mens gold ring “ B. C's VERY-OWN FOOD ) PEOPLE AND PROUD OF Tf “ cut Sharples. 7 “General Mar. 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