The Winnipeg School Division (WSD) Board of Trustees is developing its budget for the 2022/23 school year. The WSD Board of Trustees is proposing a budget of $437,118,200. Baseline WSD funding has decreased by 1.3 percent, or $2,325,538, while one-time funding of $13,217,517 has been provided for next year and property tax levies for education remain frozen at 2020 levels.
The one-time funding for 2022/2023 is intended to cover collective agreement settlements and additional costs related to pandemic staffing.
"The province has acknowledged that these financial pressures are ongoing and, while the one-time funding permits our Board to achieve a balanced budget for the coming year, we are relying heavily on the anticipated new education funding model to fully ensure equitable funding for WSD in the future," says Chris Broughton, Finance Committee Chair, WSD Board of Trustees.
"The draft budget proposes no additions for 2022/2023 and no further reductions," says Broughton. "The Board passed a motion in November 2021 to end the pilot full-day Kindergarten program based on academic results, however, there is also a financial savings of $550,000 from that decision that has contributed to our ability to propose a balanced draft budget."
The WSD Board of Trustees recognized various needs that may not be fully met in the draft budget, including resources to address increased mental health and academic needs resulting from the pandemic. Broughton urges community members to share their recommendations and concerns with the Board of Trustees.
"Because of restrictions to increasing revenue through education tax levies, the Board is not in a position to add new programs or services such as mental health and post-pandemic recovery supports, without having to remove something else to pay for it. We are always willing, however, to listen to our community members and better understand their goals and objectives for our students' success," says Broughton. "We believe this is a critical part of our planning as a school division board."
