The Sooke school district will give the public a chance to weigh in on its 2015-16 budget at a meeting on Monday.
Sooke school board chairwoman Wendy Hobbs said she does not see any big problems with the budget, which will total about $82 million.
“It’s definitely going to be a budget that the board can handle,” Hobbs said.
Last year, the board was facing a $3.3-million deficit on a similar-sized budget, she said. The size of the deficit came as a surprise to officials, and resulted from such factors as rising premium costs for some benefits.
Monday’s meeting is at 7 p.m. in the district offices at 3143 Jacklin Rd.
The Greater Victoria district held its first public budget meeting for the 2015-16 period last week, and holds another on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the S.J. Willis Education Centre auditorium at 923 Topaz Ave. Those who want to speak at two subsequent meetings on April 8 and 13 are asked to pre-register by calling 250-475-4106. The April 8 meeting is at 7 p.m. at S.J. Willis, while the April 13 meeting is at 7 p.m. in the Greater Victoria district offices at 556 Boleskine Rd.
Greater Victoria superintendent Sherri Bell said the district is sitting with a deficit of $67,000 on an operating budget of about $172 million for 2015-16.
Last year’s deficit was $1.8 million.
“It’s so different every year because there are so many variables,” Bell said.
Saanich has hosted two public budget presentations, said board chairwoman Victoria Martin. The budget will be about $72 million.
All B.C. school districts are required to file balanced budgets by June 30. The Greater Victoria district is scheduled to pass its budget on April 22, Sooke on April 28 and Saanich on April 29.
