The Board of Trustees for the Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) has approved an operating budget with revenues of $723.3 million and expenditures of $741.9 million, resulting in a deficit of $18.6 million funded by operating reserves (savings). The 2025-2026 CCSD budget was approved by the Board of Trustees on Wednesday, May 21, at a regular board meeting, for submission to Alberta Education by May 31, in meeting the legislated requirement of the Education Act.
In Budget 2025, the government announced replacing the Weighted Moving Average (WMA) funding model with the Adjusted Enrolment Method (AEM) model, which bases 70 per cent of district funding on projected students for 2025-2026 and 30 per cent on 2024-2025 estimated students. By the end of September 2025, the district anticipates enrolment to grow by more than 1,400 students (2.3 per cent), resulting in 760 more students funded through the AEM calculation. Also in Budget 2025, the province eliminated supplemental enrolment growth funding.
"The board is pleased that our advocacy has contributed to a revised funding model that better supports growing districts such as CCSD," says Board Chair Shannon Cook. "The new model is better for CCSD; however, with no increase to base instruction grant rates, the rising costs of salaries, benefits and inflation largely remain unaddressed." Chair Cook also stated, "The district's 2025 budget survey reinforced that more needs to be done to address student complexity in the classroom. The board is pleased to note that the province acknowledged our concerns by continuing funding through the Mental Health and Well-Being Grant. With additional resources, staff and space urgently needed, advocacy for adequate and sustainable funding continues, in support of students realizing their full potential, centred in Christ."
Alberta Education funding for 2025-2026 is estimated to increase by $20.2 million over 2024-2025 actual funding. Grant rates increased in funding areas such as specialized learning supports (2.32 per cent), operations and maintenance (3.0 per cent) and classroom complexity and technology (20.0 per cent). However, these grant increases account for less than a quarter of the district's funding from Alberta Education. Budgeted expenditures increased $31.9 million over the prior year's budget, primarily due to additional staff needed to support enrolment growth and salary and benefit increases through locally bargained salary settlements that are funded through CCSD's operating budget. Inflation has also had an impact, mainly on software and transportation costs. The district's budgeted operating reserves for August 2026, excluding school generated funds, are projected to be $7.4 million, representing approximately 1.0 per cent of annual expenses. Although it is within the provincial cap on savings of 1.0 to 6.0 per cent of the prior year's annual expenses, the district has been relying on these savings to balance the budget which is not sustainable.
"The use of district savings to balance the budget allowed CCSD to deliver on our four priority areas," says Chief Superintendent Dr. Bryan Szumlas. "In Budget 2024, district savings were expected to be depleted. Since July 2024, however, in-year government funding increases and operational savings allowed us to continue to invest in high-quality learning opportunities. Unfortunately, salary settlement costs are straining our budget. As a result, our board continues to ask that the government increase classroom dollars and supports, as the education system is still underfunded and it is unsustainable to continue to use savings."
Focused on the district's four priority areas, this budget invests in summer learning for new teachers and a lead at K-9 and 7-9 schools (Faith Formation); additional teachers, education assistants and special education classes (Student Success); school wellness workers (Well-Being); and increasing the presence of Elders and knowledge keepers at high school Aboriginal Studies classes (Indigenous Education). Details on spending highlights can be found in the 2025-2026 District Operating Budget at this link.
