A balanced budget at the Near North board

Some of the details of the 2015-2016 Near North District School Board budget have been unveiled by board staff.

Some of the highlights: the budget will be balanced.

This despite carrying a $424,000 deficit from last year and a $700,000 drop in funding from the province.  This is part of a $2.2-million reduction over 3 years due to provincial changes in funding.

The Superintendent of Business Liz Therrien says the province does not want to pay for empty buildings so those boards that are aggressive in consolidating schools will benefit over the long term.

Also, enrolment is pegged to decrease by 126 students in the fall.

Board chair David Thompson says at this point they don’t have an exact staffing number but they will be minimizing any cuts through attrition, retirement and the Accomodation Review process.

Because the budget will be balanced revenues and expenses are the same, at around $141-million.

Therrien says the ministry is also giving money to the boards to plan for capital projects and the share of that for the Near North board is $170,000 this year alone.