Manitoba Education Minister Discusses Funding Challenges with BSD Trustees

Manitoba Education Minister Tracy Schmidt met with the Brandon School Division (BSD) board of trustees last week to address pressing issues regarding school funding. The discussion took place via Zoom on January 15, 2024, as the province prepares to unveil its education budget early next month.

The meeting was attended by all nine BSD trustees and senior officials from the Department of Education. A significant focus of the conversation was the financial strain on the Brandon School Division, particularly due to the ongoing harmonization of teacher salaries across Manitoba. This initiative, aimed at equalizing pay between divisions, has disproportionately affected Brandon compared to some of the Winnipeg-based divisions.

Schmidt acknowledged the challenges faced by the BSD. “There are several factors that drive school funding, including enrolment,” she stated. “Salary harmonization pressures are something that the Brandon School Division and other school divisions across our province are facing this year. We understand that pressure, and we’re going to work with them to ensure they can meet their salary expectations while providing great programming for students.”

The consultation with school divisions is part of an ongoing effort by the provincial government. Schmidt expressed appreciation for the trustees’ time and input. “I think it was a really positive and productive meeting,” she said. “These discussions are crucial as we approach our budget announcement, which is scheduled for early February.”

Linda Ross, chair of the BSD board, attended part of the meeting before stepping out due to health concerns. She highlighted the mutual recognition of financial pressures faced by both the province and the division. “We were able to bring forward our concerns and asked that they be kept front of mind as the government prepares funding documents for K-12 schools,” Ross noted.

Trustees articulated their apprehensions about the upcoming budget. Duncan Ross, vice-chair and chair for the latter part of the meeting, emphasized that funding was the only agenda item. “Every trustee spoke about the concerns we have in Brandon going into this year’s budget, especially with teacher salary equalization and how that affects us more than some other divisions,” he said.

Despite presenting their case, Duncan Ross described a sense of limited optimism. “We weren’t able to get any hard answers, of course, because the budget numbers aren’t finalized,” he explained. “Based on what we heard, I wouldn’t say I have my hopes up. The province is clearly in a tough financial position as well.”

The uncertainty surrounding provincial funding has intensified concerns regarding potential options for the division, which could include raising property taxes, cutting programs, or a combination of both. Schmidt reassured that the province has made strides in improving school funding compared to previous years. “There’s not one school division that has seen its budget cut since we were elected,” she said. “We’ve also reinstated school divisions’ ability to raise local taxation. We believe we’ve struck a good balance, and we’ll continue to work with Brandon to respect taxpayers while providing strong educational opportunities.”

Duncan Ross indicated that a double-digit property tax increase is a possibility, albeit unlikely. “February is going to bring some tough decisions. It’ll likely be a mix, like last year — some cuts and some tax increases — depending on what funding we receive. Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s going to be a fun conversation,” he remarked.

The BSD is facing a significant financial challenge, with preliminary projections estimating a shortfall of approximately $6.8 million. This could lead to a property tax increase exceeding 10 percent for owners of a typical home valued at $301,000, followed by a projected six percent increase the following year.

The challenges highlighted in Brandon are echoed across the province, according to Alan Campbell, president of the Manitoba School Boards Association. He emphasized the need for the government to fully fund the costs associated with salary harmonization. “If they don’t, another double-digit tax increase will be inevitable for many divisions, or boards will be forced to make staffing cuts,” Campbell stated. He estimated that the total cost of harmonization across Manitoba is about $22 million, noting that staffing makes up roughly 83 percent of most school divisions’ budgets.

As the Brandon School Division awaits the provincial budget announcement, the outcome will have significant implications for both the division’s financial health and the quality of education it can provide to its students.