Developing the 2021-2022 Budget

Latest Budget News

On January 26, the Chair of the Board sent a letter to the Minister of Education regarding the reimbursement of reserve funds and pandemic-related costs.

The Budget Process

Prior to this past year, the Ministry of Education announces revisions to education funding (Grants for Student Needs – GSNs) and the amounts that school boards will receive for the coming year in the Spring. Funding for education is determined through a set of provincial benchmark costs for the major components of education operations, as well as the number of students. By law, school boards are required to balance their budgets by June 30. TDSB Trustees and staff work together to create a balanced budget that best supports the achievement and well-being of all students within the funding provided by the province. This past year, due to COVID-19 pandemic, funding was not announced until June and boards were given until August 15 to submit their balanced budget. The timing for the 2021-22 GSN announcement from the province is still to be confirmed.

The TDSB’s annual operating budget is approximately $3.4 billion and we are committed to using these resources as responsibly and effectively as possible. However, the funding provided by the government does not fully meet the needs of students in Toronto. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to have a significant impact on the TDSB budget into next year. Read more about the TDSB’s key funding priorities and concerns, including the financial impact of COVID-19, in the Chair’s written submission to the Ministry of Finance as part of the Fall 2020 Ontario Budget consultation.

As the largest and most diverse school board in the country, the TDSB has a unique set of needs when it comes to what is required to best support our students and communities. To ensure that we continue to support all students, we developed the Multi-Year Strategic Plan to set direction and identify system goals. The focus of the Multi-Year Strategic Plan is to ensure that every student has equitable access to programs and resources, and increased opportunities that lead to success.

Finance, Budget & Enrolment Committee Meetings

Currently, the Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee (FBEC) meetings are being held virtually and are broadcast live to the public. Please note, the schedule of meetings below may change during the budget process.

Date	Budget Milestone	Reports	Meeting Webcast
October 14	Pandemic funding and cost update	Report: Pandemic Funding and Cost Update	Recorded Webcast
November 3	Budget schedule	2021-2022 Budget Schedule for Feedback Capital Issues: Update	Recorded Webcast
November 25	Update on reserves status as a result of 2019-20 operations 2020-21 Enrolment update Update on 2020-21 Revised Estimates Review of 2020-21 strategic budget drivers and discussion of proposed 2021-22 drivers	Reserve Status as a Result of 2019-20 Operations: Update 2020 Actual Enrolment: Update 2020-21 Revised Estimates: Update Draft 2021-22 Budget Strategic Drivers and Consultation Plan	Recorded Webcast
December 16, 2020	Education Funding Guide	Ministry of Education Funding Guide
January 2021	Finalize 2020-21 strategic budget drivers Three-year financial projections and budget strategy Update on provincial consultation on 2021-22 budget Discussion of public budget consultation plan and timelines during COVID-19 pandemic Three-year enrolment forecast	2020-21 Revised Estimates and COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream Funding: Update 2021-22 Education Funding Guide: Draft Response 2021-22 Budget Meeting Schedule: Update
February 2021	Finalize public consultation plan on 2021-22 budget Update on Grants for Student Needs announcement from Ministry (if available) 2020-21 First quarter financial report
March 2021	2021-22 School based staffing allocation Update on Grants for Student Needs announcement from Ministry (if available)
April 2021	Staff analysis of Grants for Student Needs with release of detailed budget working papers (if available) Capital revenue analysis based on GSN announcements (if available) Update to financial projection based on Grants for Student Needs and recommended options to balance (if available) 2020-21 Second quarter financial report
May 2021	Presentation of 2021-22 Operating and capital budget - Draft report
June 2021	Approval of operating and capital budget for submission to Ministry

Budget Updates

December 3, 2020 -- the Ministry of Education released the 2021-22 Education Funding Guide to school boards. Staff incorporated feedback received from a survey into the draft submission for review and approval at the Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee meeting on January 20 2021, prior to the deadline submission on January 21, 2021

December 2020 -- staff presented the 2021-22 Strategic Budget Drivers and the Ministry of Education Funding Guide to Trustees, to the TDSB Community Advisory Communities, SEAC and PIAC. Feedback relating to the budget strategic drivers will help guide decisions around the 2021-22 budget development process. Feedback on these proposed budget strategic drivers was invited through an online survey up to January 31, 2021.

October 15 -- the TDSB participated in the Ontario Ministry of Finance’s Fall 2020 Ontario Budget virtual consultation and shared concerns about the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the TDSB’s budget. The presentation touched on the following areas that require additional funding so that students and staff can be fully supported: In-Person/Virtual Models of Education, Special Education, Mental Health and Well-Being, PPE and Cleaning Supplies, and Supply Teacher Costs. The presentation also referenced the TDSB’s continued advocacy in the areas of Renewal Funding and access to Education Development Charges. Please read TDSB Chair Alexander Brown’s written submission to the Ministry of Finance for more information.

Last Year's Budget Processes

In 2020-21, school boards across Ontario faced unique challenges in finalizing their operating budgets due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and the delayed announcements of the grants for student needs. School boards were given until August 15, 2020 to submit their balanced budgets to the Ministry of Education, and TDSB approved the 2020-21 budget on August 6, 2020. Learn more about the 2020-21 budget.