He’s top coach in the land
UNBC /9
qY/18, age Collection Schedule on Page 2
, NO
PUPFERy”
just REALDEALS
Thursday,
March 18, 2010
Newsstand $1.25 Home Delivered 62C/day www.pgcitizen.ca
Classified: 250-562-6666 Reader Sales: 250-562-3301 Switchboard: 250-562-2441
.the
prince
citiz
Check, pq 8 for details
it's what matters to you
Body discovered — ‘possible homicide ’
Bernice Trick Citizen staff
Prince George RCMP are responding to a 10 a.m. call Wednes-
day from the Blackwater area concerning a possible homicide.
RCMP Cst. Gary Godwin, media liaison, said police have located a deceased man who appears to
have been stabbed.
“We have few details at this point, but we are treating the scene as a possible homicide,” said Godwin, adding, communication serv-
ice is limited from the search area.
Two police-dog teams are searching the scene in the area of Clear Lake Sawmill located southwest of the city.
There is a plan
Mayor Rogers spells out direction for City of Prince George
Frank Peebles Citizen staff
It has been about 400 days of tightening the city’s belt, said Mayor Dan Rogers on behalf of the city’s new set of councillors.
Since the 2008 municipal election, he told a Chamber of Commerce luncheon audience, some major projects have been accomplished, some others are on the horizon, but the main occupation of the elected group was to stickhandle the city budget through the global economic crisis.
Rogers said the city’s income got hit in a number of
ways, like a drop in construction and development fees, and at the same time costs went up. “Our tax levy, to maintain services, would need a boost of
5.6 per cent,” he said.
Staff and council set to work to reduce that number. They found a way to cut $1.3 million out of the city’s general activities (staff attrition, for example), and they crossed a number of popular items off the city’s wish list. Major upgrades to 4th Avenue downtown, to the sewer and storm drain system, to a proposed fibreoptic network, and to the library were all postponed indefinitely.
What was left was a tax increase of about four per cent, which is the working total now as the final budget vote approaches, he said.
“That amounts to $5 per month for the average Prince George household, but of course very few people actually live in the average home, so it will mean different things for different people,” Rogers said.
Some of the major accomplishments the city did accomplish before the number crunch. The highlights were the completion of the Cameron Street Bridge ($10 million), upgrades to River Road ($10 million), a new McMillan Creek Bridge ($2 million), some general road rehabilitation ($3.2 million), facelifts for a number of urban parks and trails, and the revamped Spirit Square/Veterans’ Plaza.
The city also did $2 million in arena upgrades, $1.3 million in pool improvements, and $600,000 in upgrades to the UNBC Connector Trail that were paid for with grants from outside funding sources they were able to attract. Some of the other highlight improvements listed also attracted money from outside sources that would not have otherwise been invested in Prince George.
He said a major investment ($28 million over two years) in the Boundary Road construction project is ahead in the immediate future, which is anticipated to stimulate major income back into the city. The road would connect the Prince George Airport to the BCR Industrial Site/Danson Industrial Site and the railroad.
Another focus is winning the bid for the 2015 Canada Winter Games, up against Kelowna and Kamloops, which would mean millions in economic activity for the area and provide a legacy of person-skills and physical features the games would leave behind, plus make good use of those already here. All of it would go a long way to put Prince George on the national map, he said.
FINAL RESTING PLACE -An old spruce tree decides its time has come,falling over and nestling up to the roof of Knox United Church on the corner of 5th Ave.and Brunswick Street. The church is the oldest still in use in Prince George.
Citizen photo by Brent Braaten
School district shortfall reduced by $1.8-million
Mark Nielsen Citizen staff
Trustees have a shallower financial hole to dig the school district out of as a result of updated budget allocation figures from the Ministry of Education.
The district will receive about $1.8 million more than first anticipated, school board chair Lyn Hall said Wednesday, reducing the shortfall trustees must tackle to balance the 2010-
11 budget to $5.2 million from $7 million.
Trustees will complete the last of the meetings in the school closure public consultation process before deciding their next move, Hall said.
“Every time we go to a meeting we’re hearing different ideas, people are wanting us to consider different options, so we’re going to continue to have those discussions,” Hall said. “But given the fact we’re seeing a $5.2-million issue as opposed to the $7 million, there may be different discussions taking place now.” The district will get the third-highest funding protection grant, at $1.5 million,
and enrollment decline grant, at $770,000, in the province.
“Knowing those two pieces are still in place is very good news for us because those grants are based on our declining enrollment numbers,” Hall said, but added that receiving the third-highest enrollment decline grant means “we’re still near the top of the list when it comes to declining enrollment.” Hall also noted funding for special needs, transportation and geographical factors, like heating costs due to colder winters, was also increased.
The district’s funding is based on a full-time equivalent of 13,273 students, about 101 fewer than the fall count for 2009-10. Between 2007-08 and 2009-10, enrollment in the school district has declined by 1,024 full-time equivalent students, a seven-per-cent decrease, according to the Ministry of Education.
Hall could not say how things look for the years after 2010-11. As it stands, the district must trim a further $4.3 million from 201112 to 2014-15.
mnielsen@pgcitizen.ca
END You Can Be... Back and Neck Pain Free!
back '
SpineMED® Spinal Disc Decompression is a SAFE and PAIN FREE clinical procedure
designed for: Herniated and Degenerative Discs, Sciatica, Facet Syndrome, Spinal Stenosis and Pre/Post Surgical Patients.
• Seniors Discount • Financing Available • Covered Under Most Extended Health Insurance Plans
your city
Promises of road renewal in the north /3
business
Worries for Walmart? /19
lifestyle
Celebrating in :reen /18
diversions
Annie’s Mailbox 2
Bridge...............17
Comics ..............28
Crossword............28
Horoscope.............2
Classifieds.......33-37
58307 00100
Call Today for More Information on
rT SpineMED'
(250) 614-2060 • www.endpain.ca • in Prince George
058307001008