On January 19, 2012, staff provided a report to the Budget Committee, as well as a presentation with preliminary information on the 2012-2013 budget process that clearly stated that “the priority for the 2012-2013 budget is to maintain current programs and services to the extent possible, with a realignment to the district’s new strategic plan”, subject to the release of the provincial budget and the announcement of the 2012-2013 Grants for Student Needs (GSN). On March 29, 2012 the province announced the 2012-2013 Grants for Student Needs (GSN).

Budget Principles and Assumptions

Recognizing the reality of provincial grants for both this year and anticipating what may lie ahead for 2013-2014, staff has been cautious in developing the 2012-2013 budget.  The three following principles have guided the budget development:

• Evaluate budget alternatives in the context of our strategic plan;
• Maintain current service levels wherever possible; and
• Any expansion or increase in service levels must be funded through new provincial funding, or through re-allocation of existing resources.

New Budget Initiatives – Direct and Indirect Student Supports

Proposed initiatives or expenditure increases in the 2012-2013 budget can be grouped into two categories:

• Direct student supports; and
• Indirect student supports.

Strategically placed direct supports for students increase their ability to succeed in both student achievement and well-being.  The academic staffing decisions included some new direct student supports, including 7.4 FTE in Student Success teaching positions for grades 7 and 8, as well as 88.0 FTE (net) positions for teachers in order to support the Full Day Kindergarten (FDK) program expansion. The Board also approved the creation of an Aboriginal Instructional Coach position (1.0 FTE) that will provide support to teachers in meeting the needs of Aboriginal, Métis and Inuit students.

Other academic decisions include:

• 7.2 FTE for Program Enhancement
• 26.8 FTE for increase in Preparation Time
• 3.0 FTE for English as a Second Language (ESL)
• 3.0 FTE for Native Studies Courses
• 1.0 FTE  for Special Education Autism Class

The district will invest $1.2M in Aboriginal Education in 2012-2013 an increase of $0.5M over the previous year and will invest $10.5M in ESL instruction in 2012-2013.  This is up from $10.2M in 2011-2012. 

The 2012-2013 recommended budget includes 25.5 new positions which are discretionary:

• 12.0 FTE Special Education
• 6.0 FTE FDK
• 2.0 FTE Planning
• 3.0 FTE Facilities (Trades)
• 2.5 FTE Administration

Of these, 18.5 are direct support to students and 7.0 are indirect support to students.

Financial Implications

The total revenue for 2012-2013 is $786.9M.  The total expenditure projected in the staff recommended budget is $794.1M.  This creates a funding deficit of $7.2M; $1.0M of which is addressed through reserves for unfunded capital projects, leaving a balance of $6.2M.

The district is projecting that $17.8M of reserves will be available at the start of the 2012-2013 school year.  In accordance with Ministry guidelines, the district may use up to $7.0M towards the 2012-2013 budget.  The use of reserves beyond $7.0M requires Ministry approval and is not recommended.  The staff recommended budget is based on the use of $6.2M of operating reserves with the remaining $0.8M held as a contingency for any adjustments required for significant variances in school enrolments. 

Summary

Many important decisions about strategic investments for 2012-2013 school year were made through the academic staffing process.  The staff recommended budget complements those decisions and was developed with an emphasis on aligning investments with our strategic plan; maintaining current service levels, and ensuring that any expansion in service levels is funded to the extent possible through new grants or the reallocation of funds.  The following new initiatives are included in the 2012-2013 staff recommended budget:

• 96.0 FTE Early Childhood Educators - ECE’s positions for FDK  expansion;
• 6.0 FTE for  FDK (3.0 Special Education Professionals; 3.0 Extended Day Supervision)
• 12.0 FTE in Special Education (3.0 FTE teachers - Specialized Classes; 6.0 Educational Assistants – Specialized classes; 3.0 Educational Assistants - general);
• 3.0 FTE Facilities (Trades);
• 2.0 FTE Planning;
• 2.5 FTE Administration (1.0 Labour Relations,  1.0 Building Security/Reception, 0.5 Continuing Education);
• $80,000 Lunch Time Monitors;
• $300,000 Drug Counseling; and
• $250,000 Program Space Compliance.

This represents a $794.1 M expenditure budget using $6.2M in reserves.

Revenue

 Numbers may not add due to rounding

 Expenditure 

                              

Numbers may not add due to rounding

Please see the Current Budget webpage for final documents and information about the 2012-2013 Budget.