The Limestone District School Board of Trustees approved a deficit budget balanced with reserve funds for the 2023-2024 school year totaling $305.4 million at its regular meeting on June 21, 2023.
The 2023-2024 budget is compliant with the Ministry of Education requirements, with total operating expenditures of 280.8 million, an increase of approximately $2.9 million over last year’s expenditures. The capital expenditures budget for next year is $24.7 million and is used to fund school condition improvements and school renewal projects.
The Board has drawn from its accumulated surplus to compensate for provincial funding shortfalls in special education, transportation, statutory benefits, and human rights and equity.
The vast majority of the operating budget is directed to student instruction and relates directly to classroom supports.
Some highlights of the 2023-2024 budget and supported by the board’s accumulated surplus:
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Equity and Inclusion Positions (the Ministry of Education funds these positions in some boards but not LDSB)
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Funding for transportation expenditures exceeding transportation funding
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Unfunded statutory benefit increases