Horizon budget sees a deficit of over $275,000

By Cole Parkinson
Taber Times
cparkinson@tabertimes.com

With the current school year just about wrapped up, the Horizon school board was able to get a preview of what the new 2022-23 budget would entail.

During the board’s regular meeting on May 31, the board was presented with a deficit budget.

“We are presenting a deficit of $277,061 for next year,” explained Phil Johansen, associate superintendent of finance and operations.

With 90 per cent of funding from the province — 91 per cent of that coming from Alberta Education — the division will be receiving the same amount as they did in 2021-22. The province has an emphasis on funding the system, not the student and base grants increased by one per cent with transportation being increased by 4.6 per cent. With a new curriculum also on the way, funding for curriculum implementation is $800 per full-time equivalent (FTE).

“This year, the province announced it would be a hold-harmless budget which means we would receive as much money as we did in the current year. They did increase the base grants by one per cent and the transportation by 4.6 per cent. They are also providing additional funding for curriculum implementation,” added Johansen.

Another major portion that is focused on regarding funding from the province comes from enrolment. Johansen further explained to the board how enrolment factors into funding received from the province.