Prairie South settles financially with Village of Avonlea over construction conflict
The Village of Avonlea and Prairie South School Division (PSSD) have come to an agreement over an outstanding local improvement levy, with the division agreeing to pay a lump sum payment.
The village levied the tax in 2017 after paving a roadway adjacent to the playground at Avonlea School. Trustees and division administration communicated with the village about the issue, while a PSSD delegation attended a village council meeting to explain that school divisions do not receive funding for local improvement taxes or related projects.
The board received a letter from the village last March demanding that Prairie South pay its portion of the levy. Two months later, trustees instructed division administration to write a letter to the village explaining its position and that it would not pay the bill.
Last fall, the village office submitted a statement of claim in court to pursue the unpaid amount, a board report explained. The board provided a statement of defence and attended a mediation session with the municipality on April 7, 2021. During the session, board representatives agreed to make a lump sum payment of $86,829.03 to the village as a settlement.
As a result, the municipality abandoned its statement of claim as a condition of the agreement.
PSSD trustees discussed the settlement during their recent May meeting.
Since the board spoke with and lobbied several politicians — including MLA Tim McLeod and the minister of education — about this situation, it would be appropriate to let them know of the final decision, said trustee
Lew Young.
Board chairman Robert Bachmann explained that he had spoken with McLeod about this, with McLeod saying he continues to advocate on behalf of the board since this problem needs to be remedied at the provincial level. “I appreciate his ongoing support, but unfortunately, it has not resulted in any change in this specific action,” Bachmann added.
This situation has caused animosity between two levels of government, said trustee Crystal Froese. The board has done its best to rectify the matter by bringing it to the attention of the local MLA — who was previously the board chair — and the education minister. However, the power to resolve this lies with the Ministry of Government Relations.
“This is about building good relationships between local governments and protecting the citizens and taxpayers because it’s really causing conflict where there should be none,” she continued. “Our mandate is to look after the welfare (of students) and providing an environment of learning with the funds we’re provided through our citizens. And of course, local governments, municipalities, and such have different mandates.”
It is disappointing that the minister of education can’t do anything about this, especially since the government is allowing unnecessary conflict over outdated legislation, agreed Bachmann. The Saskatchewan School Boards Association has been a strong advocate on this issue, while school divisions need to make the best use of the tax dollars they receive.