WINNIPEG -- The Winnipeg School Division is proposing close to $5 million in cuts in the coming year – which could mean the end to a milk subsidy program for students and reductions to other programs.

The division's Board of Trustees announced its draft budget for 2021/22 on Wednesday, which proposes cuts close to $5 million to make sure they reach a balanced budget of $421,039,405.

The proposed cuts for the school year include:

· $537,174 for school resource officers;

· $317,659 for unfilled support position vacancies;

· $667,400 for occupational/physiotherapy;

· $210,000 for the milk subsidy;

· $500,000 in utilities savings;

· $928,200 in summer clerical positions; and

· $1,470,900 for non-salary expenses in schools.

Chris Broughton, the chair of the finance committee of WSD Board of Trustees, said while some programs would see only partial reductions, others listed – including the milk subsidy program which offsets the cost of milk for students, and the occupational and physiotherapy programs – would be completely cut under the proposed budget.

He said some programs should be funded through Manitoba Health, and said the division will be pursuing that option.

Broughton said the cuts are due to the government's freeze on the education property tax at 2020 levels – which he said will result in decrease in funding of 1.6 per cent.

In an email to CTV News, a provincial spokesperson for Cliff Cullen, Manitoba's education minister, pointed to the province's recent announcement which said while divisions need to freeze their education property taxes, the province would be providing a Property Tax Offset Grant, which is equivalent to a two per cent property tax increase.

They said $4 million is going to the Winnipeg School Division through the grant.

Broughton said the grant is being factored into the 2021/22 budget, but it does not go far enough.

"The provincial government likes to say that they're increasing funding (for) education, but when that increase falls well below the inflationary cost increases to school divisions, it's a de facto cut to education funding."

He said the division is not able to raise revenue to offset these program expenses, which is why the division needs to find about $5 million in savings.

"We're trying to cause the least amount of negative impact on students," Broughton said. "We're at the point where these are the types of programs that we're going to be forced to cut. Any future and further reductions in funding is going to start to affect the classroom and is going to start to seriously and negatively affect our staff and students."

Broughton said if there are no jobs lost because of the cuts, there will be reductions in the positions the division is offering.

He said the draft budget does not propose any serious cuts that would result in an increased cost for families, but they will still be affected.

"Parents and staff will have noticed the impact of cuts over the last few years and I'm certain that they will feel these cuts once they're implemented," Broughton said.

He said if something doesn't change, there will be more cuts in the coming years.

Broughton said the division is optimistic the province may increase funding support in the future years, but for now – he said they are disappointed by the province's response so far.

"The students of the Winnipeg School Division need the support of the provincial government, not only to move from this pandemic, but to recover from the negative impacts of this pandemic."

“It’s unfortunate the Chair of the Finance Committee of the Winnipeg School Division choses to mislead and create anxiety among educators, parents and students," the spokesperson for Cullen said.

"While the Winnipeg School Division may have seen an operational decrease due to a variety of factors, we are committed to easing the tax burden on property ratepayers by freezing the education property tax."

People can share their thoughts on the draft budget by registering for a budget consultation meeting that will be held on Feb. 22. The deadline to register is Feb. 18. People can also submit feedback by email or letter.