2026-2027 Preliminary Budget Process
The Board of Education of School District No. 71 (Comox Valley) is accountable for the public funds that support the school district. One of the Board’s responsibilities is the adoption of the Districts’ budget. The budget must conform to legislative requirements set out in the School Act and is the financial plan that supports the Districts’ goals.
Boards of Education operate on a fiscal year of July 1st to June 30th. For 2026-2027, Section 113 of the School Act requires Boards to prepare an annual budget and have it adopted by bylaw and submitted to the Ministry of Education by June 30, 2026.
The Board is currently planning for the next school year, which includes:
- Setting priorities for the delivery of student learning
- Projecting student enrolment
- Projecting the costs of providing the existing services into the next year (salaries, benefits, utilities, inflation, etc.)
- Determining which costs will change
- Projecting revenues (international student fees, rental fees, interest revenue, Ministry grants, etc.)
- Identifying strategies and options to address the net budget position (projected revenues less projected expenditures)
- Reviewing the budget against the Board’s strategic priorities
- Finalizing decisions
As reports and presentations become available they will be posted on the webpage in addition to public Board and Committee of the Whole agendas.
Budget Reports and Presentations:
Committee of the Whole and Public Board Meeting are open to the public and presentations are live streamed and will be available on the District YouTube channel.
The Board approved the following budget development timeline for the 2026-2027 school year at their Board meeting on November 25, 2026:
| November 4 | Financial Literacy Session Board Working Session |
| November 18 | Budget Process Overview and Guiding Principles |
| February 2 – March 2 | Public/Partner Budget Consultation Public/Partner Budget Consultation process for 26-27 will include surveys which will be advertised, posted on the District website, and shared through social media. Special meetings with Partners and Student Voice will be scheduled and held during the month of February and early March. |
| March 10 | Provide Feedback from Public/Partner Engagement and Consultation Public Engagement Session |
| March 20 | Anticipated Preliminary Operating Grant Announcement |
| March 23 – April 6 | Spring Break |
| April 28 | Preliminary 2026-27 Operating Grant Revenue Implications Regular Board Meeting |
| May 12 | Annual 2026-27 Operating Budget Position Review Committee of the Whole |
| May 13-19 | Public/Partner Budget Consultation Cont’d Opportunity for further engagement with Partner groups as needed. Ongoing work and adjustments by management team to refine budget options and ensure that priorities connect to the district’s strategic plan and adhere to Ministry policy and guidelines. |
| May 26 | Provide Further Feedback from Public/Partners and Final Draft 2026/27 Budget Report Regular Board Meeting |
| June 23 | Adoption 2026-27 Annual Budget Bylaw Review of Anticipated Proposed Surplus Restrictions Receipt of Draft Multi Year Financial Plan (Due in September) Regular Board Meeting |
If the District is anticipating a year end operating surplus this will be communicated through quarterly financial updates at public board meetings in April and June. Feedback received through consultation during the budget process will be considered when determining how the surplus will be used to support the Board’s Strategic Priorities and operational priorities prior to approving the allocations in August each year.
Public Feedback:
The public feedback survey component of the budget process will be open February 2-20, 2026