School districts can’t run deficit budgets, and all 60 in B.C. are required to submit a balanced budget each year by June 30.
Possible re-organization or trimming of some music programs are among the measures being looked at as the Greater Victoria School District deals with a deficit of about $6 million in its 2024-25 budget.
Finding efficiencies with technology for students is another possible budget step, said secretary-treasurer Katrina Stride. Stride said that a full agenda package with all cost-saving options will be posted on the district website at www.sd61.bc.ca/ on April 5. But it’s more because of the province than the school board, said Romphf, who serves on the district’s budget-advisory committee.Romphf said utility bills, for example, have gone up “astronomically” as inflation has taken hold.One of the suggestions for savings is offering elementary strings in “hubs” — or centralizing it at certain schools, she said.“There’s a big equity issue there,” Romphf said, stressing that access to the program would be easier for some students than others.
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