Prince George, B.C. – The Prince George School Board passed its 2015-2016 amended annual budget at its monthly public board meeting last night.

It represents an updated estimate of operations taking into consideration actual student enrollment which as of September 30, 2015, had increased by 145 students from what they projected last spring.

The amended budget totals $150,783,422 including the operating fund ($131 million), special purpose fund ($10.8 million) and the capital fund ($8.9 million).

As of June 30, 2015, the board has a surplus of $14.3 million to be predominately spent at the school level.

For example for things like unexpended schools operating and capital budgets, department operating budgets, learning innovation, and equipment and technology upgrades.

The vote was not unanimous however, with Trustee Trish Bella opposed. Even though the Board plans to spend its surplus funds, she argued that as long as the Board held a surplus she felt the provincial government would continue to see that money as “low hanging fruit” and ask school districts for more cost savings.