The South Shore Regional School Board is bracing for their third straight year of budget cuts. The board was hit with a 1.5 per cent reduction from the province earlier this week, resulting in a loss of $995,200. Officials also estimate 1.2 per cent for wage increases and cost of living increases including fuel and electricity. Those targets are expected to be $850,000. That's a loss of over $1.8-million. Last year, the budget was reduced by $1.4-million and in 2011-12, the budget was cut by $2.7-million. Superintendent Nancy Pynch-Worthylake says it's a difficult situation to be in.The board is facing declining enrollment, which could have resulted in a greater funding reduction but the province set a cap at 1.5 per cent. Pynch-Worthylake says it will be extremely difficult to meet the budget target without reducing staff.
