An increase in temporary funding from the provincial government helped Prairie South School Division end its fiscal year with almost $1 million more than budgeted.
Prairie South had an estimated surplus of $991,461 at the end of August, compared to the expected deficit of $1,885,679, while overall revenues were $3.7 million more than budgeted, business superintendent Ron Purdy explained during the recent PSSD board of education meeting.
Purdy’s report focused on the division’s finances to the end of May. However, since there were no summer board meetings, he could not present a fourth-quarter report, so he estimated revenue and expense patterns to the end of Aug. 31 and presented that data to trustees in September.
During the third quarter, PSSD received $3.39 million in COVID-19 funding, $1.65 million for emergent funding projects, $225,000 for building maintenance, $447,000 for a Community Net program, and $333,000 for the federal Climate Action Incentive Fund, he said.
However, the Ministry of Education held back $1.75 million from the new joint-use school project since no progress has been made yet, he said. However, PSSD should receive $7.7 million this year for the new school.
One reason this project has not progressed quickly is that PSSD is working with the City of Moose Jaw to ensure land is available, while the division must also work collaboratively with Holy Trinity, explained education director Ryan Boughen.
“Both those relationships, there are some conversations we have to have to move forward. We’re working on it. It’s in progress,” he added.
A project manager is overseeing this initiative and has previously spoken to trustees, said trustee Lew Young. He wanted division administration to invite back the project manager to provide an update and allow the board to ask questions.
Trustee Crystal Froese, a city councillor, agreed and urged the administration to give this topic space on future agendas.
“We’re kind of in the design phase. We know we have the land (and) we know where we’re going to build it,” she said. “So if we really want to progress and move this project forward, I think it needs to be included on our agenda … to make sure we’re staying updated with it, that we’re participating in the process and that we start getting a shovel in the ground out there.”
Continuing, Purdy noted that Prairie South finished the 2020-21 year with estimated grant revenues of $85.1 million compared to the budget of $80.6 million.
School-generated funds were estimated at $394,163 compared to the budget of $1.5 million. This area saw a major decline, he said, because of reduced school activities and fundraising.
“This offsets some of the overage in grants, so total revenue is not up by as much as the additional grant money,” he remarked.
PSSD received an estimated $681,387 in other revenue, compared to the budgeted $519,300. This included $137,000 in rebates and $88,000 from selling used buses and one totalled in an accident.
Total estimated revenues were $90.8 million compared to the budgeted amount of $87.1 million.
Meanwhile, total estimated expenses were $89.8 million, compared to the budgeted amount of $89.0 million.
“Our expenses are slightly under $1 million over budget. The biggest variance areas are instruction, facilities, transportation, and school-generated funds,” said Purdy.
Instruction expenses were an estimated $60.1 million compared to the budget of $59.2 million. This, Purdy explained, is because the division added an extra $1 million for the virtual school and had extra pandemic costs that were partially offset by savings in student-related expenses, professional development, and travel.
Building expenses were an estimated $14.7 million compared to the budget of $13.4 million. This overage is due to operating expenses and salaries, although there were fewer expenses for equipment, Purdy said.
Transportation expenses were an estimated $6.0 million compared to the budget of $6.5 million. Savings, he added, were mainly in repairs, fuel, and fewer extra trips. However, benefits and unbudgeted GPS costs offset some savings.
The next PSSD board meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 5.
