Several B.C. school districts ended the last school year with budget surpluses, due in part to cheques cut in June by the Education Ministry.
Richmond district had a $9.5-million surplus at the end of 2010-11, Abbotsford reported an extra $6.1 million and Surrey, the provinces largest district, had a surplus of $2.1 million.
Not all 60 school districts have released their final financial statements for 2010-11 because they still have a few days before the Sept. 30 deadline for reporting to the ministry.
In 2009-10, all districts except three New Westminster, Langley and Mission ended the year in the black.
Since districts are not permitted to run deficits without ministry approval, and balancing to the penny is difficult with multimillion-dollar budgets, relatively small surpluses are not unusual. Richmonds surplus was higher than expected as a result of the ministrys release in June of funds that are held back to cover enrolment fluctuations, more revenue than expected from the international students program, reduced costs for substitute teachers, an accounting adjustment and miscellaneous small savings, said Donna Sargent, board of education chairwoman.
While happy to get more money, Sargent said the release of the holdback funds was not well timed, with money arriving as the school year was ending.
jsteffenhagen@vancouversun.com
