If approved, the Hastings Prince Edward District School Board will see an operating budget increase of about $8 million, or 4%, this year.
The board’s Committee of the Whole got a presentation on the 2020/21 spending plan Monday afternoon, with operating expenses totalling more than $210 million.
Capital spending is expected to total about $27.4 million, up about $500,000 from last year, even though there are needs to spend upwards of $40 million on capital projects across the school board.
The budget forecasts a small surplus of about $72,000.
Superintendent of Business Services Nick Pfeiffer says the bulk of those expenses is made up by salaries.
Pfeiffer noted that of the $156.3 million or so spent on instruction, close to $5.9 million of that is spent on supply teachers.
The board has about 600 full-time elementary teachers and 300 full-time secondary school teachers.
Pfeiffer was also asked about how COVID-19 is affecting the budget and he says at this point, it’s tough to say.
You can click here to read Pfeiffer’s full report and see the proposed 2020/21 budget for the Hastings Prince Edward District School Board.
