Don’t ‘panic’ about Surrey Schools budget, give input, trustee tells parents

Surrey Schools is facing a budget shortfall of about $8 million, but there’s no need to “panic” about steep cuts because those aren’t planned.

So says Trustee Terry Allen, chair of the board’s finance committee in an interview with the Citizen.

In fact, Allen said that parents are being consulted about how budget decisions should take place – all they need to do is take part in an online survey. (You can find the survey here.)

“I cannot reiterate enough the importance of the survey and how it impacts our decision making,” said Allen. “We want their true input into how we set this budget.”

Allen understands why parents might be nervous after the “dramatic” cuts that were made in the previous year’s budget that impacted everything from learning centres to the Grade 7 band program.

“That’s what drives the panic,” Allen said. “Everyone is concerned it’s going to be cuts to special ed, it’s going to be more program cuts. Those are things we need to hear from parents. I can tell you there’s not going to be cuts to programs at this point in time unless something dramatic happens.”

The previous year’s cuts will actually make dealing with this year’s shortfall much easier, Allen said.

“Those decisions we made last year certainly mitigate any major concerns over this $8 million shortfall,” Allen said.

The next budget: The parental input is needed as Surrey Schools deal with the fallout from a declining enrolment. Surrey Schools is down approximately 890 students, Allen said, which means a loss in funding which is based on the number of students.

Surrey Schools is still waiting for the next per-pupil funding number – expected right before the start of spring break, but Allen is predicting about $9,000 per child.

Allen predicts that Surrey Schools will continue to see student enrolment decline by about 850 students in at least each of the next three years

“For the first time in nearly 20 years, the district is experiencing a decline in student enrolment, driven largely by external factors such as federal immigration changes, reduced temporary foreign worker permits and families relocating,” Allen said. “As enrolment directly drives funding, these changes have meaningful financial implications for the district.”

As the largest school district in B.C., Surrey Schools has seen tremendous growth in recent years, with this latest drop in enrolment being an unusual departure in the past two decades.

Additionally, ongoing constrained provincial finances, cross-border trade tensions, shifting government mandates around capital project contributions, and inflationary and contractual cost increases placed further challenges on the budget.

Surrey Schools spends 86 per cent of its operating budget on instruction, including salaries for teachers, inclusive education support workers, support staff, substitutes and other professionals.

Allen noted the board continues to actively monitor and manage pressures related to enrolment, provincial constraints, inflation and contractual costs as trustees prepare for the 2026-27 annual budget in May.

Surrey Schools has 82,000 students and hopes to receive more than the 4,000 responses from a previous survey.

Allen said he understands people might be cynical about their input being considered, but he says the survey is vital to the board.

“People think the board is offer lip services, but that’s not the reason at all,” Allen said. “This isn’t just an exercise in futility.”