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Vol. 132 Number 18 COPY 65¢ (61¢+4¢ GST) 44 ; i Wr OA TRE Ce ty oil Ge AML ili ade Sep AMA x ve bn TE 32 Pages Minister to announce funding for education By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star Education Minister Dave Johnson is to be in Durham Region tomorrow to inform school board officials on details of the long-awaited funding formula for schools. The minister will brief board officials on the level of per-pupil funding they can expect to receive next fall, when the pro- vince assumes full financial responsibili- ty for education. It's widely expected that the province will aim to reduce adminis- trative costs, and concentrate on class- room spending. That's good news for the Durham District School Board, says Scugog trus- tee Bobbie Drew. And she's encouraged that the minister is making a stop at Pine Ridge Secondary School in Pickering to discuss the new funding scheme. "I think maybe they're using Durham as a model," said Mrs. Drew, noting that the public school board has a low adminis- trative overhead and keeps per-pupil expenses down, yet still managed to cap- ture an international award for excel- lence in public institutions. "If (the province is) looking at lowering costs and still providing better education for students, we've done that," said Mrs. Drew. "Our administrative costs are very, very low. Please turn to Page 14 Girls charged in break-ins Durham Regional Police have arrest- ed and charged two 15-year-old females after a break-in at a John St. residence. Police report that the two girls entered the home through a window sometime between 12:35 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on March 12. Once inside they stole various CDs, jewelry and some electronic equipment, say police. A Blackstock and an Uxbridge-area girl have been charged with one count each of break, enter, and theft. They are scheduled to appear in court on April 24. £3 i3 on 9 : Ea Le - JEFF MITCHELL / PORT PERRY STAR WHAT ARE YOU LOOKIN' AT? ...This emu, who's penned along with a bunch of his pals in a field on Reach St. near Epsom, peers curiously at a visitor who stopped by last week. Icicles hanging from the wire fence are from the week's ice storm, which left outlying areas coated with a crystal covering. A word of advice if you're tempted to stop and see the emus: Don't stand too close to the fence! Port Perry (905) 985-8886 Store Hours: Mon.-Fri.8am- 10pm: | am- m; Sun. & Holidays 9am-5pm - he said. "ing on an "informa- FC committee meeting User fees not ruled out, says chairman By John B. McClelland Port Perry Star Scugog residents could face higher user fees for municipal services this year as the township wrestles with the 1998 budget. Finance committee chairman Ken ' Gadsden told The Star Monday afternoon that hiking user fees has not been ruled out. "We are looking at all the options (for raising revenue) that are on the table now," 'He was comment- | tion report" tabled at Mon day's finance Ken Gads den. which shows Scugog is still $437, 000 away from bringing down a zero budget increase for local spending this year. While Councillor Gadsden stressed that the budget process will not be com- plete until late May or June this year, the ~-- report tabled Monday shows that if there are no cuts in spending or hikes in reve- nues, ratepayers are looking at a 13.23 per cent increase in the local portion of their tax bill in 1998. That would be over $50 on an average home with an assessed value of $3,600. But Councillor Gadsden said the finance committee will be concentrating its efforts on finding ways to increase reve- nues, rather than make more spending cuts in an effort to pare that $437, 000 down. Changes in the education funding for- mula for this year could result in savings for township ratepayers, he noted. 'And the municipality is applying for provincial grants from a "special circumstances" fund to repair a bridge in-Ward 4 and fix Coulcliffe Blvd. in Ward 5. He also said the committee has not ruled out increasing user fees charged for municipal services. Councillor Gadsden said the committee is not considering any major cuts in capi- tal spending this year as that just delays the inevitable, and has a nasty habit of coming back to haunt | in future years, |