(File Photo/650 CKOM)

By Derek Craddock

WORKING WITH A SHORTFALL

Sask. Rivers expecting almost $2 million deficit despite increase in provincial budget

Apr 5, 2023 | 11:00 AM

Despite an increase to the provincial education budget, one school district said it will be seeing less money this coming year.

The Board of Trustees with the Sask. Rivers Public School Division met on Monday where they discussed what the provincial budget means for them.

Overall, the division is expecting a decrease of about $1.85 million.

While the division is expecting an overall increase in funding, adjustments already made for the 2022-23 school year means the actual impact for the year will be less.

Trustees noted that of the $49 million increase announced province wide, $20 million was already announced last July to help schools deal with inflationary pressures. Just over $15 million was given in December for enrolment increases that exceeded projections by 3,840 students province wide.

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That means the remaining $13.9 million only amounts to a real increase of 0.7 per cent for next school year.

The division said that ultimately falls short of requirements for the year and is not sufficient to maintain current operations and programs.

READ MORE: Health-care and Education unions respond to provincial budget

The SRPPSD is expecting the result of the funding decrease will amount to a shortfall of $1.85 million at a time when inflation is causing costs to go up.

The Saskatchewan Teachers Federation was one of many critics to the provincial budget saying despite the province increasing spending, it did not take into account rising enrolment and complex needs.

“Teachers are doing everything they possibly can to support a growing number of students in an underfunded system,” says STF President Samantha Becotte. “Once again, this government is choosing to shortchange kids and families. Saskatchewan is in a strong financial position. Government has the money to invest in education. It is simply refusing to make students a priority.”

The STF said the provincial budget provided an operational funding increase of 2.5 per cent, which does not keep pace with rising costs and will only result in further cuts to services and supports. The union said a minimum of five percent was required to maintain last year’s funding levels.

The Saskatchewan School Boards Association also said the funding does not help meet the needs and the costs that many school districts are facing.

“We have been advocating for adequate and sustainable operational funding for quite some time and we have noticed that the ability of boards to deliver services to students has been eroded over the last several years,” said President Jaimie Smith-Windsor. “School boards are facing uncertainty and may have difficult decisions to make, once again.”

The Board and staff with the SRPSD said they are working hard to find the best ways to manage the reduction in funding for schools and students in the Prince Albert and area.

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panews@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @princealbertnow