The Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board approved a balanced and compliant budget for the 2020-2021 school year at a Special Meeting of the Board on July 29, 2020.

The theme for our 2020-2021 fiscal year is Empowerment, Impact and Unleashing our Extraordinary. A theme that encourages faith, reflection, reconnection, respect, response and innovation to the challenges that have been put before us.

The details presented in this report are a collective effort by many stakeholders and capture our commitment to the Board’s mission, vision, and new multi-year strategic plan (2020-2023).

Key Highlights of 2020-2021 Budget:
Enrolment
➢ 3,050 Elementary Students (2.41% increase over 2019-2020 Revised Budget)
➢ 1,623 Secondary Students (1.2% decrease over 2019-2020 Revised Budget)
➢ Total 4,673 (53 ADE or 1.1% increase in enrolment over 2019-2020 Revised Budget)

Utilization
➢ Board Capacity %: 108.9%
➢ Net empty spaces across the Board: (short 382 as compared to On the Ground Capacity)

Revenues
➢ Total Revenues $77.9M (Operating Revenue is 3.5% increase over 2019-2020 Revised Budget)
○ Operating Revenue: $67,870,413
○ Capital Revenue $10,012,907

Expenses
➢ Total Expenses $77.9M (Operating Expenses 3.5% increase over 2019-2020 Revised Budget)
○ Operating Expenditures - $67,870,413
○ Capital Expenditures - $10,012,907
○ Operating Expenditure % in relation to total Operating Expenditures:
▪ Instructional Expenses - 76.5%
▪ Administration Expenses - 4.1%
▪ Transportation Expenses - 7.2%
▪ Pupil Accommodation Expenses - 10.5%
▪ School Generated Fund Expenses – 1.4%
▪ Other Expenses - .3%
○ Total Expenditures by Object:
▪ Salaries and benefits – 77.6%
▪ Staff development - 0.5%
▪ Supplies and services – 6.9%
▪ Interest charges on capital - 0.4%
▪ Rental Expenses 0.3%
▪ Fees and contract services – 9.1%
▪ Other Expenses 0.4%
▪ Transfer to Other Boards - 0.2%
▪ Amortization – 4.7%

Capital
➢ Total Capital Expenditures - $10,012,898

The most significant contributors to the 2020-2021 capital plan include:
○ Mobilizing the tender for an 8-classroom and 4-room childcare addition at St.Anthony’s Catholic school, Kincardine once Ministry approval to proceed to tender has been granted.
○ Completion of the St. Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School 2-room childcare addition which construction started in May of 2020.
○ Initiating the planning phase of a new childcare addition at St. Basil’s Catholic School, Owen Sound
○ School condition improvements such as HVAC unit upgrades, roofing upgrades at Sacred Heart High School, Walkerton
○ Turf replacement and upgrade at St. Joseph’s Catholic School, Port Elgin
○ Supporting board-wide technology initiatives such as 1-1 technology for all Grade 4-Grade 12 students, security, disaster recovery enhancements, risk management planning, and software upgrades (Navision, Ebase, Aspen)

Accumulated Surplus
➢ Total Accumulated Surplus (including land) - $9,917,199
○ Available for compliance – Unappropriated - $1,118,806
○ Available for compliance – Internally Appropriated - $6,275,426
○ Unavailable for compliance – $2,522,967 (School Generated Funds & Land)

Staffing
➢ Total Staffing – 579 (increase of 26 FTE or 4.7% over 2019-2020 Revised Budget)
Ontario has four publicly funded school systems: English Catholic, English Public, French Catholic, and French Public. All boards are funded on a per-pupil basis, with other grants added to provide equal educational opportunities for all students (i.e. Special Education, Learning Opportunities, Transportation, etc.)

In addition, boards across the province have maximized efficiencies through shared services. In Bruce-Grey we are able to share transportation and purchasing services with the Bluewater District School Board, resulting in substantial efficiencies for both boards.

The 2020-2021 budget is embedded with support to foster future-ready students and fulfill the Catholic Graduate Expectations. It is a reflection of our commitment to provide each student of the Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board with a vibrant, quality learning experience deeply rooted in Catholic values that nurture each in mind, body, and spirit.

For more information: https://www.bgcdsb.org/about_bruce_grey_c_d_s_b/accountability

source: media release, Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board