2020-21 Draft Operating Budget
This has been a school year unlike any other, and it appears that we will continue to face many similar challenges when we return to school in the fall. Above all else, the TDSB is committed to ensuring the health and well-being of our students and staff when schools reopen, as well as doing everything we can to ensure that learning – both in the classroom and at home – continues for all students. You’ll see these priorities reflected in the draft operating budget that staff will be presenting to a Special FBEC on July 7. To read the full report, click
here.
TDSB staff have prepared the draft operating budget for next year with the best information we have right now. Given the nature of the pandemic, there is no experiential data or history to draw on as we develop the budget. As a result, staff are not recommending any changes to the base operating budget for 2020-21.
Staff are not recommending any reductions or changes to current operations so that all efforts can be focussed on reopening the system safely, with staff and student well-being prioritized. That said, staff are recommending an additional $22.5M in Covid-19 related costs for the first 4 months of the new budget (September-December).
Since the projected operating deficit is primarily due to additional COVID-19 costs, staff are recommending the use of reserves to offset the projected deficit.
We all hope that the impacts of COVID-19 will gradually diminish as virus infection rates continue to decline in our City and Province. We will continue to update the budget projection as new information becomes available and the situation evolves.
We have requested that the Ministry of Education provides additional Covid-19 funding to support school boards as they navigate opening schools back up safely next year. It is important to note again that no additional funding was provided in the GSN for COVID19 increased costs.
We are committed to a transparent budget process and welcome all feedback from the community. If you have questions or comments to share, or would like more information about next year’s budget, please join us at a TDSB Budget – Virtual Town Hall Meeting (see below) on July 8 or depute at the upcoming Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee on July 9. Learn more by visiting
www.tdsb.on.ca/budget.
Background:
- The TDSB’s annual operating budget is approximately $3.4B. Based on the 2019-20 budget, approximately 86% of the operating budget (before amortization) is associated with staff costs, with 77% of the operating budget associated specifically with school-based staffing.
- Per Ministry regulation, school boards can only have an in-year deficit equal to the lesser of working funds or 1% of operating funds without requiring Ministry approval.
- This year, school boards are required to submit a balanced budget to the Ministry of Education by August 19, 2020.