Board of Trustees Release Draft Budget for 2025-2026

At a public board meeting held Thursday, February 13, 2025, the Board of Trustees released the 2025-2026 Draft Budget.

We value pre-budget community consultation, and our trustees truly want to hear from the public. Feedback regarding the 2025/26 Draft Budget can be made by letter directed to the Board of Trustees, by email at budget@pembinatrails.ca or by appearing as a delegation, in person, at the regular board meeting on Thursday, February 27, 2025. Parties interested in appearing as a delegation are required to email their notice to appear and written presentation to Emily Vickers at evickers@pembinatrails.ca by Wednesday, February 19, 2025.

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE NUMBERS

• Budget combined operating and capital expenditures $246 million.

• The typical homeowner will see an increase of $40 on their property taxes before the provincial rebate.

• Increase in combined operating and capital expenditures of $29,3 million or 13.1%.

• Our Board has added 76.6 FTE teaching positions.

• We are excited to continue to support Pre-K to Grade 6 early learning needs through our summer programming (Ignite 3) for the 2025/26 school year.

FUNDING SOURCES

Pembina Trails continues to experience rapid enrolment growth. While funding does not match enrolment growth nor address increasing fixed costs and anticipated salary settlements, we have been able to focus on decreasing K to 8 class sizes, with a particular focus on K-3, and have added 76.6 teaching positions overall. This is possible through a slight increase in property taxes.

 Our annual Continuous Improvement Report for 2023-2024 can be found here.