INNISFAIL — Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS) trustees have approved the 2021-2022 budget, which calls for a slight increase in fees over the next year.
“Projected revenues are similar to the prior year with decrease in the amount of $600,000 in the operational funding due to a reduction in our student projections. We expect fees to increase slightly with school extracurricular activities getting back to normal (post pandemic),” secretary-treasurer Rod Steeves wrote in his 2021-2022 budget report.
“Sales of services and products will increase to levels from prior to the pandemic with cafeterias back to pre-pandemic levels with students being back in schools full-time.”
The budget calls for total fees of $1,284,000, up from $1,234,000 in 2020.
Transportation fees remain steady at $250,000, alternative program fees increase to $90,000 from $82,000, fees for optional courses increase to $88,000 from $82,000, ECS enhanced program fee increase to $55,000 from $47,000, and non-curricular travel fees increase to $226,000 from $221,000.
Revenues are expected to decrease by $222,133, down to $111,737,966 from $111,960,099, and expenses are set to decrease by the same amount.
Certificated salaries are projected to be $53,070,567, down from $53,584,920, while certificated benefits will be $13,177,038, down from $13,435,553.
“Certificated salaries and benefits will be down slightly with a reduction in a couple staff at the central office and less substitute costs due to less COVID restrictions,” Steeves said.
The 10,000-student RDCRS includes schools in Olds and Innisfail.
