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Published On: Thu, Mar 14th, 2019

Government cuts electricity budget for schools

PHILIPSBURG — The power consumption at public schools varies wildly it appears from the draft 2019 budget. The government intends to save more than 46,000 guilders ($25,720) in 2019 on the electricity bills at eight primary schools and the Vocational School.

The Rudy Labega School has the highest budget for electricity: 47,700 guilders ($26,648) – the same as in 2018. The total budget for all nine schools is 193,960 guilders ($108,358), down from 240,000 guilders ($134,078) in 2018.

Three schools see the budget for electricity go down dramatically. The Lionel Conner School (30,891 guilders – $17,258 in 2018) has been allocated 15,000 guilders ($8,380) in 2019 – a decrease of 51.4 percent. The second biggest budget cut is for the Martin Luther King Jr. School in Dutch Quarter: from 24,332 ($13,593) in 2018 to 15,000 guilders ($8,380) in 2019.

The Vocational School also get less money to keep the lights on: the budget goes from 30,955 guilders (($17,293) in 2018 to 22,000 ($12,291) this year. On the bright side, the ministry of education has reserved one million guilders ($558,659) to complete the construction of four additional classrooms at this school.

The Charles Leopold Bell School hardly uses any power; it has a tiny budget for electricity of 1,260 guilders ($704).

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Download the complete DRAFT 2019 BUDGET here