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MONARCH 3442 I The Millcroft Difference! the Old SGranary 105 Robinson Street at Water Street (please use the Water Street entrance) dSYrabary *L and support the nited ZO)ay 0/[ Oaboville The Old Granary has been opened on this special occasion for the United Way i BURLINGTON â€" 3325111 _ TORONTO +844â€"5615 Demonstrafions 5y shilled artisans Suggested gift: $5 All proceeds to the United Way of Oakville Sunday October 16, 1994 is offering a STUDY SKILLS WORKSHOP Oct. 15, 9â€"12 noon READING WORKSHOP Oct. 22, 9â€"12 noon at APPLEBY COLLEGE LIMITED ENROLLMENT Gr. 9 up. TO REGISTER CALL: 8499876 1:00 to 5:00 pm Help Yourself to Better Marks Before Exams! 3 Reasons To Play Millcroft: Green Fees ‘22" 7 Days A Week! 4 Golf Course in Midâ€"Summer Shape * Featuring Leavesâ€"Free Holes At Millcroft, We Give You % Reasons To Play FALL SEASON GOLF PROGRAM Public school board aims to cut budget but still could levy mill rate increase By KATHY YANCHUS Oakville Beaver Staff he 1995 budget forecast for the Halton Board of Education is in and it isn‘t a ENTERPRISES INC pretty picture. These _ figures, _ stresses Superintendent of Business Services Wayne McNally, are strictly projecâ€" tions. The projected bottom line of $279.9 million, a drop of almost 1% over last year‘s budget, mixed with a decline in provincial grants, still results in a mill rate increase of 4.54%,. The problem is that the board‘s expenditure reductions are not keepâ€" ing pace with the decline of transfer payments from the government, he explains. The major chunk of the budget reduction is in the area of employee downsizing, but also includes previâ€" ously approved actions of the board including the restructuring of senior administration, reduction of profesâ€" sional development funds and userâ€" pay outdoor education. Although Ministry grants will not be known until early next year, based on past trends, administration is budgeting for a continued decline of 11% or $6.2 million, said McNally. "It‘s a long way to the approved budget. This is a starting point," says McNally. "As well, our social contract obliâ€" gation will further reduce our grants by $2.2 million," he said. "The difficulty is that grants have fallen, taxpayers have dug their heels into the ground, parents are 9 SELLING or MORTGAGING A HOUSKE Barristers Solicitors * Family Law * Real Estate » Wills Estates * Company Law * Senior Citizens Law * Civil Litigation Legal Aid Accepted 314â€"345 Lakeshore Road East Oakville, Ontario 338â€"2555 Call us for a quote! McLEOD HORNER AXON Siebert added it‘s important for taxpayers to realize that this is not a "temporary period of beltâ€"tightenâ€" ing." "Trustees can‘t possibly know enough about the system to come up with ways to save money and know the effect this will have on kids," said Siebert, admitting her philosoâ€" phy may differ from that of other trustees. "Everyone, parents, students, staff, community members and trustees must take personal responsiâ€" bility for dealing with this," said Siebert. "We must examine our interâ€" action with the board and ask, ‘What are we doing?‘ ‘Can we do it more economically?* ‘Do we need to do it at all?‘ ‘What am I willing to give up to have this continue?‘ Parents have a special duty. They must be quick to tell us when the impact of change is more detrimental to our students than we had anticipated..." Siebert said she works hard at being a trustee putting in 25 hours per week, but it doesn‘t give her the inside knowledge of a staff person "who has been working for the board for 25 years." "We have to give administration a target and guidelines," she said. more demanding and the Ministry is demanding more programs. The equation doesn‘t work," says Finance Committee chair Penny Siebert. Siebert appealed to the communiâ€" ty and staff to come up with ways to save. The budget discussion must occur in public so the community knows trustees aren‘t being arbitrary, said Siebert. "Trustees can‘t possibly know enough about the system to come up with ways to save money and know the effect this will have on kids. Penny Siebert