Cathy Lynd, treasurer for the Greater Essex County District School Board, presents a budget overview at the regular meeting on April 19, 2016. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)Cathy Lynd, treasurer for the Greater Essex County District School Board, presents a budget overview at the regular meeting on April 19, 2016. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)
Windsor

Surprise Surplus For Public School Board

An unexpected $1-million surplus at the public school board can be largely credited with the influx of Syrian refugees to the area.

Cathy Lynd is the superintendent of business at the Greater Essex County District School Board.

She had projected a $1.5-million deficit for the 2015-2016 budget, but says an enrolment bump meant more funding for the board.

"We're very happy," says Lynd. "We had an increase in students, about 157 over the year, mostly related to the Syrian newcomers."

Lynd adds strict budgeting also helped.

"Some budgets came in under spent and normally you would re-direct those to other expenses within your portfolio, but the director [Erin Kelly] was very clear: 'Don't spend where you don't have to spend,'" says Lynd. "It was a result of a lot of work by a lot of people in not spending where they didn't have to."

Administration is now working on revised estimates for the 2016-2017 budget which had a projected deficit of $3.5-million, but Lynd thinks the figure will now be improved. The updated figures are expected to be reported later this year or early in the new year.

The surplus will be added to the board's accumulated surplus which stands at $16.7-million as of August 31, 2016.

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