Budget Development FAQs

All budget details and financial information can be accessed by selecting the Business Services and Financial Information sub-menu under the Board tab on the District website.

The district has a carefully developed and well-defined Education Plan (Pathways to Learning). The role of the budget is to resource the Pathways plan. We are seeking advice on how to do that as effectively as possible.

The first version of the budget is referred to as the Spring Budget, which is typically approved in June of the prior school year. The Spring Budget is driven by conservative student enrollment estimates and the resulting district funding. Based on the estimates, we allocate revenues and expenses through a site-based budgeting model for schools and a centralized budgeting model for shared services. The discussions from the Annual Partner Group Meeting assist us in incorporating various needs and strategies into the district’s Spring Budget. Changes in actual enrollments compared to estimates drive the Fall Budget development process and the related funding impacts.

SD48 operating funding is derived from the following key areas: 

• Full-Time Equivalency (FTE) Funding - generally speaking the majority of the school district's funding is generated through resident per student basis; 

• Special Purpose Funding - this includes restricted funding the school district receives for particular purposes and services;

• Community Link Funding and Classroom Enhancement Funding;

• Funding to support students with unique needs;

• Supplemental Funding - this includes funding that is generated for supplemental areas, including geographical funding and average district vs provincial certificated educator compensation;

• International Students - this funding is generated from international students' tuition and related fees.

The Provincial Funding Model is expected to change in future school years. School districts are anticipating that any changes to the level of total district operational funding would be temporarily subsidized through bridge funding from the province. Regardless of the current funding model or the new funding model, it is the Board’s responsibility to come up with the annual budget (spending plan) through the funding received. 

The Site Based model of service delivery describes a set of practices where leaders collaborate at the school level to make decisions for the best delivery of the School District’s Educational Plan, including the Pathways to Learning, for their school. Site Based Management begins with a delegation of the authority to principals to make decisions in specific areas of operations related to their school. Principals are responsible for the delivery of education programs at their school and are accountable for how they are delivered and for maintaining a balanced budget.

Non-discretionary means that the Board is required to provide these staff and services from the annual operating budget. The majority of the annual budget is considered non-discretionary and  is driven by such things as the School Act, BCTF and CUPE Collective Agreements. Discretionary expenses means that the Board has flexibility with respect to how to allocate the funds.

The key dates for the budget development process include the following: 

• November 2022 to January 2023: 2023-24 Spring Budget Development Preparation

• January to February 2023: Enrollment Projections

• February 15, 2023: Annual Partner Group Meeting

• February to March 2023: Initial School Alignment Meetings

• March 2023: Provincial Budget Released

• June 2023: Board Approval of 2023-24 SD48 Spring Budget

• September 2023: Actual Enrollments

• October 2023: Actual Revenues

• February 2024: Board Approved Fall Budget