On May 13, the Municipality of Saint-Polycarpe adopted its first borrowing by-law to decree an expenditure of over $3 million for the purchase of land to build a new school.

The funds, totalling $3,078,800, will be used to finance the purchase of the land, as well as roadworks, infrastructure and the extension of Rue des Loisirs. The land in the Municipality's sights is located at the end of Rue des Loisirs. Since it is zoned white, no zoning changes will be necessary.

“For the moment, no agreement has been reached between the Municipality and the Centre de services scolaires des Trois-Lacs or the Lester-B-Pearson School Board. We can't confirm whether it will be an elementary or secondary school, or even whether it will be French or English. The borrowing by-law is really to ensure that we'll be ready when an agreement is reached,” Éric Lachapelle, the Municipality's Director General, confirmed to Néomédia.

The sum will be reimbursed over a 20-year period. A special tax will be levied on all properties, whether built or not, on the territory of the Municipality, every year during the term of the loan. 

As a reminder, since 2020, Quebec municipalities have been obliged to cede to school service centers and school boards the land needed for new schools, or to expropriate, at their own expense, the land that will be ceded to the organizations. 

Borrowing by-law 201-2024 will be adopted at a future municipal council meeting.