The Limestone District School Board of Trustees approved a deficit budget balanced with surplus funds for the 2022-2023 school year totaling $295 million at its regular meeting on June 15, 2022.
The 2022-2023 budget is compliant with the Ministry of Education requirements, with total operating expenditures of $270.8 million, a decrease of approximately $2.5 million over last year’s expenditures. The capital expenditures budget for next year is $24.2 million and is used to fund school condition improvements and school renewal projects.
“The 2022-2023 budget prioritizes the health, safety, well-being and human rights of students, staff and school communities,” says Board Chair Suzanne Ruttan. “The Board has drawn from its accumulated surplus to compensate for provincial funding shortfalls in special education, transportation, human rights, and equity as well as mental health supports by increasing spending over revenue allocations,” states Ruttan. “I would like to thank Trustees for their work, diligence and thoughtful enquiries to ensure our finite resources are directed in a manner that supports the vision and values of this Board.”
The vast majority of the operating budget is directed to student instruction and relates directly to classroom supports.
Some highlights of the 2022-2023 budget and supported by the board’s accumulated surplus:
- Human Rights Officer (the Ministry of Education funds this position in some boards but not LDSB);
- Program staff to support Equity and Inclusion
- Funding for transportation expenditures exceeding transportation funding
- Purchase of additional information technology equipment to support virtual learning and professional development
“Trustees spent a considerable amount of time reviewing staff reports and input from stakeholders across our school communities to approve a budget that always keeps student at the forefront by funding classroom supports as much as possible,” says Vice-Chair Tom Gingrich, Chair of the Budget Committee. “Like every public school board across the province, we will continue to face ongoing budgetary challenges, and we will continue to advocate on behalf of students, families and staff to ensure appropriate and flexible funding.”
To review the full 2022-2023 Limestone District School Board Budget, 2022-2023 Budget Booklet