‘Massive drop’ in tax request from Yellowknife school boards

School boards in Yellowknife have lowered their requested municipal tax increase from 14 percent to less than one percent.

Earlier this month, Yellowknife Education District No 1 and Yellowknife Catholic Schools requested tax revenues from the city that would have seen property taxes increase by 14 percent this fiscal year.

Graham Arts, assistant superintendent for YK1, and Adam Murray, superintendent of YCS, told councillors the territory’s funding model has not kept pace with the actual cost of educating students. They said despite making cuts, both school boards still faced funding shortfalls and needed more money from the city to close the gap.

The city collects taxes on behalf of schools and determines tax levies, or how the tax burden is distributed among different types of property owners. The city does not, however, determine the total amount of school tax it collects, as that is up to the school boards.

In an update at a meeting on Wednesday, councillors discussed a proposed bylaw with a significantly lower school tax levy. Mayor Ben Hendriksen told Cabin Radio the school boards’ new requested property tax increase is now 0.21 percent.

Deputy mayor Rob Warburton noted that’s “a massive drop” and said he’s glad residents are no longer facing a big tax hike.

Arts said since the initial meeting with councillors, YK1 has made additional reductions to its budget with the aim of protecting core school services while offsetting impacts to property taxpayers.

He said that has included reallocating some existing librarian time to take on educational assistant responsibilities.

“We still have serious concerns about the territory’s funding model and the extent to which it reflects the actual operational costs of the city’s two largest school districts,” he said.

Murray said Yellowknife Catholic Schools has also made more reductions to its budget, including cutting eight healthcare aide positions.

Angelique Rossouw, superintendent of business for YCS, said the NWT’s Department of Education, Culture and Employment also approved more funding for the school board.

Councillors approved the revised school tax increase.

Both Warburton and councillor Garett Cochrane said they shared the school boards’ concern about territorial funding not meeting the needs of students. They said they would support the schools in lobbying the NWT government for more money.

“I don’t think what’s occurring is sustainable in any way,” Warburton said.

“Any reduction in services is a reduction in our kids being able to have proper education within the system,” Cochrane added.

Cabin Radio has contacted the territorial government for comment.