Public works open house PAGE A3
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Budget actions balance UNBC books The University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) board has approved a number of budget actions to balance the budget, including a tuition increase of two per cent. The board said the $75 million budget will allow the university to maintain existing service levels while providing time for the development and implementation of new planning processes that will establish future priorities. The budget illustrates there are some expected financial pressures facing the university, largely due to declining tuition revenue, reduced government grants and increasing compensation costs. To balance the budget, the board has approved a number of actions: • A one-time elimination of allocations to reserves that have sufficient balances to maintain activities at the same level as previous years. • A temporary decrease to the utilities budget based on last year’s results. • A temporary increase to the revenue line related to investment income based on prior years’ returns. • Tuition fee increases of two per cent. “UNBC faces fiscal challenges, and this budget does a very good job of explaining them,” UNBC President Daniel Weeks said. “While we’ve presented a balanced budget for 2015-16, the budget framework sets out a projected deficit of $3.7 million for 2016-17. The mandate from the board is for administration to lead the process of dealing with this deficit, so we will need to develop some new strategies to address this issue.” About 63 per cent of the operating budget for the university is provided by the provincial government some 24 per cent comes from tuition fees. Wages and benefits account for about 70 per cent of the university’s expenditures. The tuition fee for a full-time undergraduate student will now be $5,010 per year, an increase of about $99 per year.
globe trotting guider PAGE A11
VOL. 101 NO. 78
www.quesnelobserver.com
Market memorial In a simple, heart-felt memorial to the passing of market founding farmer Murray Boal, the Quesnel Farmers’ Market set up a display including spring flowers, a farm wreath and words that told of some of Boal’s accomplishments. A memorial gathering is planned for June 13 at the Occidental, 1 – 3 p.m. Boal passed away last week after a long battle with cancer.
14th Annual Quesnel & District Hospice Palliative Care Association
Hike for Hospice
Autumn MacDonald photo
High school rodeo PAGE A16
PM 40005365
1
$ 30
includes GST
Charges laid against two men in Sunday shooting Charges have now been laid after a male was shot early Sunday morning. Myles Pacholok and Tyler Brown were in provincial court Monday. Pacholok was charged with attempted murder; Brown is facing charges of break and enter and assault with a weapon. At 12:40 a.m. May 31, RCMP were called to Comeau Road where a disturbance involving gunfire was reported. Shortly after the initial call G.R. Baker Memorial Hospital reported that a male had been dropped off suffering from a gunshot wound. The gunshot victim is being treated at G. R. Baker Memorial Hospital, where his condition is described as stable. The North District Major Crime Unit, as well as The Prince George Forensic Identification Section are assisting in this investigation.
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Sunday August 9, 2015 Registration: 12:00 p.m. Hike: 1:00 p.m. LeBourdais Park
REGISTRATION - ADULTS $15 STUDENTS & SENIORS $5 CHILDREN UNDER 6 FREE
July 16th - 19th