The City of Lloydminster has renewed its seamless levy with the two local school divisions for 2026.
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The agreement between the Lloydminster Public School Division (LPSD), the Lloydminster Catholic School Division (LSD) and the city aims to ensure equitable delivery of educational curriculum and programming, regardless of provincial residency of city residents.
At the Jan. 19 regular council meeting, council heard from administration regarding a one-year renewal agreement, as negotiations between the city and school divisions was ongoing.
For 2026, a two per cent increase was being recommended.
Lloydminster city manager Dion Pollard explained the 2025 seamless amount was $1.329 million. In 2026, with the recommended 2 per cent increase of $26,584, the total is $1.355 million.
The funding collected and utilized is not meant to replace provincial funding.
“The seamless levy is collected in addition to provincial education levies and is unique to Lloydminster,” said Pollard. “The seamless levy is not meant to replace provincial education funding and is to be used to ensure equitable delivery of educational curriculum and programming, regardless of the provincial residency of our city residents.”
Funding provided can be used for part-time pre-kindergarten, driver training education, First Nations’ programming, English as a second language and the over-age program.
“There is some flexibility (to use funds) within those fixed categories for each school division to use as they see appropriate,” said Pollard.
Coun. Michael Diachuk pointed out the programs are mandated.
“When we look at the five programs, they’re programs that are mandated by the school divisions to provide,” he said. “Each province provides funding for some of the programs, but not all of them. For instance, Saskatchewan says we must provide driver education, no funds come from Alberta. So, in order to provide it for all students in the system and avoid people dashing back and forth across the border, this just takes away all those hassles that are there.”
Coun. Justin Vance asked what the funding allocation looked like between the two divisions.
“It’s based on student enrolment. It’s about a 55/45 split at this point in favour of the public division,” said Pollard.
The funding provided to the school divisions is collected through taxation.
“I think it’s a good time to remind our taxpayers that they do pay the seamless education levy, it is a separate line item, but it does come in the tax bill,” said Mayor Gerald Aalbers.
Council approved a one-year seamless levy agreement for the 2026 calendar year.
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