Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows School District released the 2025/26 proposed preliminary budget on Wednesday, April 16, and is looking for feedback on proposals to balance an ongoing deficit.
A $2.2 million deficit was reflected in the 2024/25 approved preliminary budget and was due to ongoing expenses exceeding funding sources, explained the district in the executive summary.
As structural deficits are not permitted under school board policy, to balance the budget, the district used $2.29 million from the prior year's operating surplus to fund the approved expense proposals.
However, the district noted, this approach is not sustainable.
"The board and senior staff remain committed to eliminating the structural deficit in the 2025/26 budget," according to the budget document prepared by staff.
"The base budget for 2025/26 initially projected a structural deficit of $0.92 million due to rising cost pressures – such as salaries, benefits, and inflationary increases in non-discretionary expenses – that continue to outpace both funding increases and internal savings.
"The proposed ongoing budget adjustments, totalling $1.49 million, fully eliminate this structural deficit and support the board’s goal of maintaining long-term financial stability," reported the district. The school district is projecting a balanced budget for 2025/26.
However, the district is estimating budget funding shortfalls for the next three years: approximately $1.44 million for 2026/27, $2.12 million for 2027/28, and $2.20 million for 2028/29.
And, over the next four years, the district said it is facing significant funding shortfalls across several key areas, including: $3.68 million for the IT capital plan, $1.93 million for facility equipment and vehicles, $0.84 million for new temporary classrooms, and $1.69 million for renewal of non-school facilities.
"Without additional funding, the district may need to delay critical upgrades, reduce investments in operational efficiency, or reallocate resources from other priorities. The local capital funding shortfalls can be addressed by securing funding from the provincial government for eligible capital projects and by considering the allocation of any future operating surpluses, if available, to local capital," read the document.
The board is now looking for feedback on the proposed preliminary budget for 2025/26 including budget balancing proposals in the areas of: support for school growth plans; learning services; support for operational plans; student transportation; use of the 2024/25 available operating surplus; and the Feeding Futures School Food Programs Fund.
A survey is currently online at: https://www.sd42.ca/announcement/survey-proposed-preliminary-budget-2025/.
The deadline to fill out the survey is by noon on April 23.
