SD 67 in Penticton hires accountant, gets extension on budget deadline

Photo: Contributed

Outside help has arrived for the tangled School District 67 budget process.

The Board of Education for School District 67 has announced the outside accountant who will oversee an audit of its tangled financial situation. 

Joan Axford is a professional accountant with over 35 years of experience in education finance, including as secretary-treasure in SD 63 (Saanich), director of school finance with the Ministry of Education and executive director of the BC Association of School Business Officials. 

The board decided it needed outside help at a chaotic meeting Monday at which it was supposed to vote on a budget, but trustees could not agree. 

James Palanio, Board Chair indicated that the Board was pleased to engage someone with such vast experience

Her investigation is aiming for the following outcomes:

1. A simple explanation of the 2018/19 operating deficit.

2. Clarification of the decisions in the amended 2019/20 budget, impact on the 2020/21 budget and a financial forecast to June 30, 2020.

3. A report on operating reserves, school generated funds and local capital over the past three years.

4. Provision of a Financial Literacy and Budget Development Workshop for the Board.

5. Provision of budget consultation and communication strategies.

6. Development of a budget implementation plan to ensure that all areas of the organization understand and can manage their area of budget responsibility.

The Ministry of Education has agreed to provide the District with an extension from the February 28 deadline to submit the 2019/20 amended budget so the Board will consider the third and final reading of the budget bylaw at its regular Board meeting on March 9.