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by (bvs up by 7.1 per cent Education boards tired of getting knocks at budget time . By Terry James . It was a long evening, comprised of questions, and answers, flaring tempers and the occassional joke, but when it was all over, the Waterioo County Board of Education approved a $94,422,993 budget for 1978. | At a special board meeting following the regular committee of the whole meeting last Thursday, only two trustees appeared to be disgruntled by the deciâ€" sion. Cambridge trustee Dorothy Beke was conâ€" cerned about passing the budget when there were still small areas of uncertainty. She felt trustees may be passing the budget due to the ‘"lateness of the hour,‘* and would.possibly regret their decision the following day. Waterioo trustee Lynne Woolstenâ€" croft was also opposed to approving the budget that By T erry James Boards of education are tired of being made to appear as villians when the mill rates are proclaimed. These were the feelings of Jack Tummon. business administrator for the Waâ€" terloo County Board of Education. following the completion of the ©1978 budget. The budget represents a 7.1 per cent increase over ‘77s budget and a dollar increase of $6,265,â€" 654. A formal request for $23,779,888 will be issued to the municipalities in the Region. This will result in an increase of $27 per household compared to the $49 increase experienced last year when spendâ€" ing rose 15 per cent. ‘‘This is unfair when one looks at the size of the area we govern. _ said Mr. Tummon The total levy increase over last year‘s figures was 15.5 per cent for the elementary division and 9.3 per cent for the secondary division. Provincial grants will cover 45 per cent of the total budget. This represents a two per cent decrease in provinâ€" cial grants over last year. The administrator pointâ€" ed out that while provinâ€" crtal government grants to the â€" municipalities have increased 10 or 11 per cent. grants to school boards have only increased 479 per cent. The Waterloo County Board is receiving less than this Board Chairman, Rev. Harry Janke, said the board is running on a tight budget and trustees are concerned. We have attempted to be responsible," he said. ‘"We realize the economy is in a slump and we‘re trying to meet that." Salaries and benefits for the board‘s 4,000 employâ€" ees takes care of 82 per cent of_the 94 million. All other areas of the budget have marginal increases or less than marginal. Before making a final decision, trustees® spent considerable time in discussing feasible areas of budget reduction. A major area of concern was the replacement of furniture and equipment. The budâ€" get for this division was cut by $417,355. ‘"Are we being responsible?" asked Cambridge trustee Ross Cromwell? "I am concerned that we keep taking the entire amount out of replacing furniture and equipment. Two or three years down the road we‘re going to be in trouble." > Bill Townshend, superintendent of operations, said this whole area is becoming a serious problem. ‘"Certainly we are compounding that problem year by year and there will be a day of reckoning," he said. » Mr. Townshend said that if the board can‘t afford to replace equipment then they will have to prepare to lose some programs. o a00 _ Woolwich trustee, Paul Haney, supported reducâ€" ing the budget in this division. _ f c "The time has come when we have to consolidate some of our programs," he said. "The majority of the taxpayers feel much of this equipment is not necessary for a good program even though they are regarded as good teaching aids."" In the area of programs, Emerson MacMillan, superintendent of the program division, said that if Mr. Tummon said it puts the municipalities in the happy position of not havâ€" ing to levy money on the public while the school board does. ~It‘s _ obvious," _ said Waterloo trustee Lynne Woolstencroft. ‘"The policy of this government sugâ€" gests more interest in sewers and streets than the quality of life in the fuâ€" ture." Waterioo trustee Doreen Thomas â€" said _ teachers‘ federations, education officials and the Associaâ€" tion of â€" Large School Boards. met with Premier Bill Davis and Education Minister Thomas Wells The delegation presented statistical proof that municipalities have receivâ€" ed grants over 10 per cent whait compared to school boards‘ five per cent grants. Mrs. Thomas said they met with sympathy from Mr. Wells and Premier Davis said ‘‘thankâ€"you."‘ will be operating with less money in ©78 than it was m%nmwmnummmm cut from the division‘s budget. mpmibiutythtwhoolpsehoolmmtafioa could be one of the areas eliminated, caused a stir amongst. the trustees. Superintendent Stewart Whitmyidorpedthzboamthat%mldeliml- nate such activities as the annual trip to a dairy fami‘::nfr&mmumfl:eCountymfl the . Quebec trip. Transportation to the three other ‘activities outside of the homeâ€"school would be eliminated. This would also eliminate County representation at a number of events. â€" _ _ Mr. Haney said that deleting this schpool to school transportation would cripple the program division. Hesuggestedtakingo?oneywtofoflwrareasin- cluding administration‘s travel and tion exâ€" penses: He went so far as to mesjtmtmstees cut their own honorarium by $1,000. ‘‘To eliminate trips to a dairy farm for grke two studentsâ€"~who may never have been to a farm is a bad priority,‘‘ said Mr. Haney. Waterloo trustee Lynne Woolstencroft and Doreen Thomas also expressed concern about making cuts in this division. oA ‘‘*We mauled the program division two years ago and it hasn‘t yet recovered," said Mrs. Woostenâ€" croft. fewer dollars in the program division since 1976 and this is the only division where such is the case. The initial budget reduction for the program division totalled $86,620. After much deliberation the board agreed to retain $47,463 of this amount. Sport council disbands Plant operations and maintenance was another area of concern to trustees. Bill Keith, superintenâ€" dent of this division, suggested cutting the budget by $564,300. This figure allowed for a reduction in additional staff requests, additional furniture and equipment, replacement of the same and a reduction in salaries for casual and summer help. While trustees may get away with such a budget cut this year, Mr. Kieth warned that in three years time some of the plants will be 20 years old and equipment will have to be replaced. By reducing monies in this division he said the plants can do nothing but deteriorate. Cambridge trustee, Ted Clare, said the board should address themselves to this problem and there should be a long range plan prepared. | Rev. Janke echoed Mr. Kieth‘s concern. In a meetâ€" ing with the media immediately following the finalâ€" ization of the budget, he said that if the board keeps this up for the next two or three years there wil}t be a definite effect on the maintenance of. the buildings. _ | ~ Generally the chairman expressed pleasure with the board‘s decision and complimented the staff for their countless hours of preparation. He said there are always high expectations being showered on them from the public. Some persons want the high standards the board prides itself on to be reâ€" tained regardless of the cost and others like to see reductions that will lower taxes and save money. He is convinced that the board has struck a balance. "It‘s the responsibility The Waterloo Regional Sports Council, an advisory body for amateur sport. will dissolve its operations, the executive decided last week. The decision was announced Tuesday. The executive explained in a prepared statement that its decision was based on the fact that amateur sports have reached a level of self sufficiency and the need for the council has been reduced. However. one of the underlying factors in the counâ€" cil‘s decision has been cutbacks in provincial fundâ€" ing Lack of funding forced the council to dismiss its fullâ€"time director last fall. The council was formed about three years ago of the school trustees to impress upon the taxpayâ€" ers that the province has shifted its interest away from education and people are going to feel the effects of it," said Mrs. Thomas. o °C