Trustees with Prairie South School Division have approved the 2022-23 budget after amending the document to include over $1 million from the provincial government to address inflationary expenses.
During their Sept. 6 meeting, board members accepted the budget document, which includes revenues of $99,308,306, operating expenses of $95,809,739 and capital purchases of $11,605,742.
The cash deficit is expected to be $3,978,969 because of amortization expenses.
Trustees had tentatively approved the 2022-23 budget during their May meeting, which would have seen revenues of $98,257,506, operating expenses of $94,758,939 and capital purchases of $11,605,742. However, over the summer, the Ministry of Education provided the division $1,050,800 to cover inflation-related costs for insurance and fuel. So, division administration was forced to adjust the budget.
Prairie South’s three largest revenue streams are provincial grants of $93,142,359, external services of $3,345,456 and school-generated funds of $1,297,533.
The five largest expenses for the school division are instruction — teachers’ salaries and benefits — of $64,001,601, plant maintenance and operations of $14,773,526, transportation of $7,637,856, complementary services of $3,373,032 and administration of $2,782,252.
Prairie South plans to cover its deficit by using $775,519 in unused building renewal funding from past years, $683,920 from designated assets and $2,519,530 from unrestricted surplus.
“We certainly appreciate the inflationary addition funding to this budget. It’s very much needed. And I’m sure other school divisions feel the same way as we are,” said trustee Crystal Froese.
“Not to poke the bear … but it would have been a greater benefit for us if we could have allocated it to areas we know have the greatest need,” she added. “But certainly, we’ll not turn away the additional money, especially with the inflationary pressure we’re feeling in all corners of our school division.”
The next PSSD board meeting is Oct. 4.
