The Near North District School Board has approved a $188.7 million budget for the 2024-2025 year. For perspective, the City of North Bay’s 2024 budget is $160 million.
The budget was passed on July 15, during an afternoon special budget meeting. Finance Committee Chair Shane Hall provided a report and presentation on the budget, noting a $61,324 surplus overall.
“I am grateful for the work of the finance team in presenting this balanced budget,” Hall said.
The budget takes into account the board’s projected enrolment, which is predicted to rise 0.4 per cent. Also, the board is projecting a staffing increase of 33 full-time positions. Just over 71 per cent of the board’s budget goes to salaries and benefits.
For instance, just under $130 million in wages and benefits is set aside for educators. Around $4.6 million has been set aside for administration.
However, the board foresees funding issues for both special education and transportation. In a release, the board noted that “the special education budget is projected to be a deficit of $609,000, funded by 2023-24 special education deferred revenues.”
As for the transportation budget “which continues to cause challenges to school board budgets across the province, will be a $2.14 million deficit,” the board said. For the 2023-24 budget, the transportation deficit was $1.65 million.
The board has budgeted $16.3 million for transportation costs for the 2024-25 year.
Board Chair Ashley St. Pierre said, “I am proud of the work of the finance staff and the finance committee in preparing this balanced budget. NNDSB is in great shape to continue its work of student achievement and well-being.”
David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
