'A key area of risk': Inflationary costs a factor in Regina Public Schools projected $2.5M deficit
The Regina Board of Education is projecting a $2.5 million deficit for the 2022-23 school year, with rising costs neutralizing funding increases.
“All available funding is fully allocated, with no contingency funds set aside and little margin to manage cost increases or funding decreases without impacting services,” the board said in its 2022-23 proposed budget.
On a cash basis, the board is forecasting $261,699,734 in revenue and $264,244,200 in expenses, resulting in a $2,544,466 deficit for the year.
The deficit saw a slight reduction from the previous school year, down $913,341 from $3,457,807 in 2021-22.
The school board said approximately $800,000 of the projected deficit stems from “time-limited” expenses and ongoing pandemic impacts.
Operating funding from the provincial government for the Regina Public School Division for 2022-23 is $242.7 million, which is $4.1 million, or 1.7 per cent, higher than the board’s December 2021 funding recalculation.
Inflation, specifically on durable goods and fuel, was identified as a “key area of risk” for the year.
Inflationary pressures are projected to add $200,000 in transportation costs, along with $132,000 in increased insurance premiums.
The board will also be bringing back some pandemic recovery supports due to staff feedback. Supports include: Learning Response Teams (reduced from seven to four FTE), additional counsellor staff, and additional Indigenous advocate positions.
The supports will be funded by reserves.
Student enrolments are projected at 25,008 across elementary, high school, associate schools and home based learning – up 416 from last year.
The Ministry of Education will recalculate funding in the fall based on Sept. 30 actual enrolment totals.
REDUCING POSITIONS
The board will be reducing full-time equivalent (FTE) positions by 46, which includes 19 classroom teacher FTE positions, 10 FTE contingency positions, “pandemic related positions and other one-time initiatives, and division office reductions, offset by increases for equity, diversity and inclusion and IT support.”
The division notes the teacher FTE allocations are recalculated annually based on projected enrollment. The calculations for the 2022-23 school year resulted in 19 fewer positions in the budget than previously estimated, to keep student-teacher ratios consistent.
The 10 “contingency” FTE positions were budgeted in 2021-22, but not accessed.
“FTE reductions can be managed through attrition and will not require staff lay-offs,” the division said in its proposed budget.
The board projects 2,338 FTE positions for the 2022-23 school year.
The FTE estimates do not include additional education assistants (EA) that were funded in the provincial budget. The board is eligible for up to $922,000 in additional EA funding, which equates to approximately 22 more FTE positions.
RESERVE FUNDING
Regina Public Schools had nearly $61 million in reserve funds as of the most recent financial statement on August 31, 2021, but it notes that the majority of that money is set aside for specific purposes and cannot be used to sustain annual spending.
Just under $14 million of the reserve is unrestricted.
Reserves will likely be reduced from the 2021-22 year due to the current financial forecast, the board said.
“Reserve funds are in place to balance off unanticipated budget impacts and one-time initiatives but cannot be relied on for the long-term,” the budget proposal reads.
Offsetting cost reductions were found within the budget, but further reductions were made to “maintain a sustainable level of spending.”
Those changes include:
- Reductions to facility renovation and contracted services budgets.
- Transportation efficiencies in light vehicle costs.
- Reducing Division-level operating (non-salary) budgets and holding some positions vacant.
- Reducing school operating (non-salary) budgets by five per cent
The budget will be discussed at a Regina Board of Education meeting on June 29 at 5:30 p.m. It is expected to be approved by Aug. 31 by the Ministry of Education.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.