The Portage School Division board of trustees got some good news at Thursday’s meeting: the division’s property taxes are now $7,200 cheaper.

Judy Smith, the manager of business and finance at the school division briefed trustees on the cheaper taxes.

“The main reason was because of the 2012 property reassessment that assessed several of our properties at a much lower rate. Yellowquill School was $1,000 less, PCI east $1,200, Arthur Meighen and Crescentview Schools were on the same roll and they were $2,000 less. It amounted to $7,200,” said Smith.

She added that the division can hopefully look forward to an even lower assessment in 2014.

Smith also told the trustees that the division is in the midst of its 2011-2012 financial audit with BDO Dunwoody LLP.

Auditors are on site this week doing the financial audit, which has been going well.

“So far it is going well. It has to be complete and in to the Province by Oct. 31. I don’t foresee any problem with that,” said Smith.