Thursday, April 18, 2019

Greater Victoria School Board Approves Budget for 2019-2020 School Year

VICTORIA, BC –  The Board of Education has approved a $250.8 million dollar budget for the upcoming school year. Trustees discussed the funds at a Special Budget Meeting last night.

The budget is comprised of funding from the Ministry of Education, other grants and revenues. The funding is allocated for salaries, employee benefits, supplies, equipment and services on an annual basis. For details on the budget breakdown and how funds are allocated across the District, please review the 2019-2020 Budget Snapshot: www.sd61.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/91/2019/04/GVSD61_BudgetSnapshot_201920.pdf

Budget highlights include:

• $10.4 million for capital investments, including facility improvements, accessible playgrounds and new buses
• $33.5 million to create inclusive schools that support all students and their development in the academic, social-emotional and physical domains
• $1.1 million to create fluid and flexible learning spaces in schools to support learners with diverse needs

The Board of Education is also committing to carry forward and apply approximately $1.1 million of the operating surplus towards the 2019/2020 deficit and an additional $682,000 towards the 2020/2021 projected deficit. The Board is also investing nearly $1 million of local capital to provide support for District initiatives.

Surplus allocation and transfer details include:

• $1,104,242 to be carried forward and applied towards the 2019/2020 projected deficit
• $682,000 will be carried forward and applied towards the 2020/2021 projected deficit
• $339,270 to replace students’ digital devices in schools to ensure student learning continues to be in alignment within the revised curriculum
• $200,000 to ensure sustained equitable access to technology in all of our schools
• $100,000 from rental income will provide resources to maintain childcare facilities

“While the District has a structural deficit, the Board is pleased to approve a balanced budget as a result of operating surpluses from previous years,” shared Board Chair Jordan Watters. “With this budget we can continue to work towards full implementation of our strategic vision to support students, families and staff.”

The 2019-2020 budget marks the fourth consecutive year where the budget has been balanced without any budget reductions. For more details on the annual budget visit: www.sd61.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/91/2019/04/2019-2020-Annual-Budget.pdf

The Greater Victoria School District has more than 20,000 students and 47 schools across six municipalities (Victoria, Oak Bay, Esquimalt, View Royal, Saanich and Highlands) and two First Nation Territories (Esquimalt First Nation and Songhees First Nation).

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For more information, please contact:

Lisa McPhail 
Communications & Community Engagement
Greater Victoria School District
Office 250.475.4103