The Government has released its Annual Public School Funding Announcement, and there are big things in store for Manitoba schools.

According to Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen, the Government will ensure all school divisions receive no less than 98 percent of the operating funding they received for 2019-20. Funding Manitoba schools will also increase by more than $6.6 million, a record total of $1.33 billion.

"This investment in our public schools demonstrates our government's commitment to students' success," says Goertzen. "This funding is the most ever committed to public schools in Manitoba's history. Since 2016, funding to elementary and secondary education has grown by nearly $33 million."

These dollars are in addition to the promise to build 20 new schools over the next ten years and will cost approximately $500 million.  "Like all levels of government, school divisions need to make choices and carefully prioritize spending decisions," says Goertzen.

With school division administration expenses exceeding $65 million in 2018-19, Goertzen says to increase transparency related to these expenses, the department has also released an out-of-province travel summary. This disclosure of costs is similar to what members of the Manitoba legislative assembly and cabinet use.

Minister Goertzen is also asking school boards to limit increases to education property taxes to a maximum of two percent for the coming school year.

He adds the Government looks forward to the final education review report due out in March.