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17| O akville B eaver | T hursday,June 7,2018 insidehalton.com Per-pupil HDSB average is significantly lower than the provincial average The per-pupil average among students in the Hal- ton District School Board is significantly lower than the provincial average ($10,972 compared to $12,299 provincially), a dis- crepancy projected to be at its peak for the past two years, compared to the per- pupil average recorded each year since 2004. Transportation expense total is up, but funding allocation for certain ser- vices have been decreased The transportation ex- pense is projected to be $17,288,393, up $398,508 from the previous year. However the following modes of transportation are to expe- rience decreases for the 2018-2019 school year: pupil transportation ($51,520 de- crease to $982,516), Gary Al- lan High School transporta- tion ($5,500 decrease to $22,500), HOPES Transpor- tation ($50,000 decrease to $105,000), specialist high skills major transportation ($56,500 decrease to $100,000), school bus orien- tation ($31 decrease to $1,877), gifted transporta- tion ($78,000 decrease to $1,230,000), mobility acces- sible transportation ($89,000 decrease to $908,000) and special educa- tion transportation ($2,500 decrease to $155,000). Textbook supplies and services expense total is up, but some areas are experiencing a decrease The projected budget for textbook supplies and services is $18,472,628 for 2018-2019, an increase of $412,220 from the previous year. Decreases can be seen in the following cate- gories: care, treatment, custody and corrections ($7,000 decrease to $81,693), health supplies ($10,723 de- crease to $119,277), integra- tion/boundary reviews ($4,136 decrease to $55,864), media and library ($17,074 decrease to $102,802), out- door education ($24,899 de- crease to $360,086), Safe Schools ($4,466 decrease to $38,900), school effective- ness framework (removed from budget), specialist high skills major (removed from budget). "I am pleased that with projected revenues of just over $763 million, a balanced-budget plan has been achieved which supports the board's mul- ti-year strategic plan. It is clear to me that the board's budget was devel- oped based on the needs of the students in Halton and that the process of budget development has been both transparent and consultative," said Halton Hills trustee Jeanne Gray. The budget was expec- ted to be passed at the board's June 6 meeting. NEWS lContinued from page 16 Board expects increase in transportation expense It's been a roller-coast- er of emotion for Matthew Granger - one that's ended on a joyous note. "I'm just so happy to have him back and over- whelmed at how the com- munity rallied around me," he said Monday eve- ning, having literally just walked into his condo af- ter getting his stolen pup- py Tank back - offering good boy validation upon seeing the 14-week-old dachshund use his pee pad. "I don't think he'd eaten in a while, but he seems fine ... in good spir- its." Social media blew up once word that Tank had been taken from in front of Oakville's Ritorno Res- taurant on Oak Walk Drive last Thursday night (May 31). Granger had been planting flowers in the pa- tio area of his family's res- taurant - with the puppy tied up beside him - when he popped in to wash his hands. No sooner did he re- turn than a woman wit- ness rushed in and said a young couple, who had just left the restaurant, had taken the dog. "It couldn't have been more than two minutes. I'm completely morti- fied," said Granger thefied," said Granger thef next day. "Never in a mil- lion years would I think this could happen in this area." A thorough investiga- tion quickly ensued, and - with the public's assis- tance - police were able to locate the dog Monday af- ternoon and return him to Granger. There's no further de- tails at this time, as the matter remains under in- vestigation. Facebook postings by Granger and on inside- halton.com were shared several hundred times over the weekend. "I can't be more thank- ful. It's too soon to knowful. It's too soon to knowf for sure, but I think thatfor sure, but I think thatf (social media engage- ment) had the biggest role in getting Tank back. It's amazing to think how much people care and it goes to show you how pow- erful social media can be." Anyone with informa- tion about the incident is asked to contact the Oak- ville Criminal Investiga- tions Bureau at 905-825- 4747, ext. 2216, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Puppy stolen at Oakville restaurant found safe and sound Owner overwhelmed with support on social media STEVE LEBLANC sleblanc@metroland.com Matthew Granger is reunited with Tank after he was taken in front of Oakville's Ritorno Restaurant May 31. Halton Police photo