SIMCOE MUSKOKA CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
Catholic Board Approves Plan to Balance Budget

On July 7th, 2025, Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board (SMCDSB) trustees approved a three-year plan to balance their budget. After approving a balanced budget last June (2024), the board accumulated an in-year deficit in order to address increased special education costs due to a rise in student needs.

The board has worked, with the support of the Ministry of Education, to develop a Multi-Year Financial Recovery Plan (MYFRP), which addresses this in-year deficit as well as an additional budgeted deficit for the 2025-2026 school year. Student needs are becoming increasingly complex and the number of students requiring support also continues to rise. In order to address changing student needs, the board finds itself in a position of exceeding Ministry of Education funding allotments for special education. 

The Board is undertaking a comprehensive, third party review of special education services delivery with the goal of exploring options for long-term program and financial sustainability. It is expected that recommendations from the review will help address program and financial pressures beyond the 2025-2026 school year.  

The operating budget approved by trustees is in the amount of $375,110,533. The Multi-Year Financial Recovery Plan, which the board also approved, will address an accumulated and budgeted deficit of $7.1 million, by achieving cost-savings as follows: 

• $2.45 million in 2024-25

• $1.37 million in 2025-26 

• $1.82 million in 2026-27 

• $1.46 million in 2027-28

The measures being used to achieve these cost-savings include significant reductions to operational budgets as well as a reduction of 23 full-time positions over three years. The majority of these reductions will occur through attrition, retirements and position realignment. 

The budget and MYFRP will be submitted to the Ministry of Education for final approval by July 31, 2025. 

Media Statements attributed to Maria Hardie, Board Chair

There is no question that school boards across the province are facing significant financial pressures. Funding has just not kept pace with inflation and at SMCDSB we are feeling particular strains in the delivery of special education services to our students with the greatest needs. We are having to make difficult choices - intentionally moving into deficit situations - in order to provide students with what they need to attend school. 

We are working collaboratively with the Ministry of Education and we feel that we have put forward a solid plan to return our board to a balanced situation. We are making very intentional efforts to plan for long-term sustainability and this includes the review of special education service delivery. 

SMCDSB is committed to doing its part to find efficiencies and adapt processes, wherever possible. We are focussing efforts on essential programs and services that directly support student achievement and well-being. At the same time, we continue to appeal to the Ministry of Education to look at its funding model, especially for special education.