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By Dylana Kneeshaw

SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET UPDATE

School District 73 says budget reduction plan is on track; eyeing January funding allocations

Dec 11, 2024 | 4:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops-Thompson School District has been monitoring its budget closely this school year after an accounting error resulted in a $2.2 million deficit. And the district says it is on track with its goal to cut back on spending to make up for the shortfall.

As part of the plan, district staff were asked to cut back on supplies and services, while mileage fees for field trips saw an increase and staffing reductions were made at the district level.

According to S.D. 73 Superintendent Rhonda Nixon, firm budgeting figures, which will also indicate how the spending plan is working, won’t come until January when the district finds out what its provincial funding allocation will be.

“What I can say I’ve been really pleased with, I just left a budget meeting here actually, is in review of the supplies and services budget reduction plan, people in various departments and in schools are taking it seriously,” says Nixon. “They are really monitoring it closely and we’re pretty much on track.”

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Next month will also be when the district has more information from the Ministry of Education around classroom enhancement funding, which Nixon says affects salaries.

“January will be an important time for us. People are on track as far as what they’re doing with the budget, in terms of what the budget plan was,” reiterates Nixon. “Our pressure point is still replacement costs — as it is provincially — and relief costs. This is not new and we’re not the only district facing it. It’s just an area where all of us are struggling to have enough staff to cover when people are away.”

Nixon also expects the district’s public quarterly report to come out in January, which will outline more detailed information on their financial situation.