Public education strives to be the cornerstone of a democratic society. It allows all students to have access to quality education, a variety of opportunities and future pathways.

As a large publicly funded organization which serves approximately 65,000 students in the Region of Waterloo, the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) works hard to make the budgeting process transparent and accessible to families and community members each year.

The annual WRDSB budget is developed in consultation with staff and the Board of Trustees. The budget must follow the funding regulations set out in the Ministry of Education’s Core Education Funding, in compliance with the Education Act.

The WRDSB’s budget is more than just numbers – it represents the staff and facilities that support the academic success and well-being of WRDSB students each day.

Commitment to Transparency and Accountability

We remain committed to prioritizing spending in areas that support student achievement and well-being. To remain transparent and accountable to the students, families, parents and caregivers we serve, we provide updates on our work through the Board Improvement and Equity Plan, the Human Rights Annual Report and the WRDSB Annual Report.

Budget Process

To further support transparency and accountability, we will be sharing a breakdown of the 2026-27 budget to help parents, families, caregivers and community members better understand our expenses, sources of revenue and provincial funding.

Investing to Achieve Our Operational Goals

The 2026-27 budget prioritizes a continuation of strategic investments in literacy, math, classroom safety and technology, which were first supported by Trustees in November 2025. These investments, totalling $6.6M in 2026-27, illustrate our ongoing commitment to improving student achievement and building confidence in public education. The budget also includes funding for classroom supplies for elementary teachers, curriculum resources and student transportation, in alignment with the Ministry of Education’s Core Education Funding.

Targeted investments of $2.9M will be made to support the implementation of the Math Achievement Action Plan and the WRDSB’s Structured Literacy Multi-Year Plan to further enhance in-school supports and build educator capacity, as well as educators working directly with students to leverage high yield instructional strategies to improve their literacy and math.
Further investments of $1.8M have also been made to enhance student supports and classroom safety; and $1.9M for technology and operations, including the ongoing maintenance and technology enhancements, and the implementation of the employee attendance support program.

We want to ensure that we are continuing to prioritize the long-term financial stability of the WRDSB, while remaining transparent and accountable for how we support student achievement and well-being. This approach ensures stability while enabling impactful, system-level improvements aligned with the WRDSB’s multi-year strategic objectives.

Download a copy of the 2026-2027 WRDSB Budget Summary.

By the Numbers (2026-27)

Total Students – 63,326*
Total Number of Staff (FTE) – 6,737*
Extended Day Enrolment (FTE) – ~2,700*
Total Revenues – $957,101,695
Total Expenses – $969,673,031
Revenues – Expenses = $(12,571,336)
Public Sector Accounting Board (PSAB) Adjustments** – $5,922,583
Net Budget Balance – Surplus/(Deficit) – $(6,648,753)
Capital Budget (e.g. Land, Construction) – $82,955,921

*Based on estimates

Revenues

  • Core Education Funding – $864.8 M
  • Other Grants & Responsive Education Programs Funding – $813,206
  • Other Revenue Sources
    • Extended Day Program Revenue – $18.3 M
    • Miscellaneous (School Generated Funds, Rental Revenue, Interest) – $23.7 M
    • Deferred Capital Contributions – $49.5M
  • Total – $957.1 M

Expenditures

  • Classroom Instruction (Salaries, Supplies & Services, Equipment) – $683.1 M
  • School Administration (Salaries (P, VP, Secretaries), Supplies & Services) – $67.5 M
  • Central Administration and Governance (Trustees, Central Administration and Support Services Staff) – $21.9 M
  • School Operations (Salaries, Supplies & Services, Contracts & Utilities) – $76.2 M
  • Pupil Accommodation (Operating – School Renewal and Facility Rentals) – $60.9 M
  • Continuing Education (Salaries, Supplies & Services, Contracts) – $2.7 M
  • Student Transportation – $24.8 M
  • Other (Extended Day Program, School Generated Funds) – $32.4 M
  • Total – $969.7 M

Targeted Priorities

  • Math Achievement Action Plan
  • Multi-Year Structured Literacy Plan

** Public Sector Accounting Standards allow public institutions to make adjustments to revenue and expenditures which are not related to regular operating to determine a budget deficit or surplus.

2026-27 Budget Timelines

  • January to May 2026 – Preliminary work on 2026-27 budget begins
  • May 13, 2026 – Core Education Funding Released by the Ministry of Education
  • June 1, 2026 – Trustee Budget Seminar
  • June 10, 2026 – Special Budget Meeting (Budget Approval)
  • December 2026 – Presentation of Revised budget
  • Winter 2026/Spring 2027 – Interim Financial Report and Forecast Updates

Visit the Board Meeting website for the Meeting Agendas and Minutes, as well as the link to join the Live Stream.

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Budget

Where does WRDSB receive its funding?

The WRDSB receives funding through the Core Education Funding and Responsive Education Programs funding from the Government of Ontario. This is based on the average daily enrollment of students to support costs. Most of our funding is from provincial grants. The WRDSB also generates revenue from fees it collects from International Students, through its Extended Day Programs, and School Generated Funds (school trips, fundraising etc.).

How does the WRDSB decide where to spend its funding?

The Ontario government directs how most of the WRDSB’s funding can be spent. The majority of WRDSB funding is spent on instructional costs, including salaries, benefits (which are largely determined by collective agreements), supplies and services to support student learning. Additional costs for things like student transportation, building maintenance and improvements, and administration are also supported through provincial funding. In alignment with our Board Improvement and Equity Plan, the WRDSB prioritizes spending in areas that support student achievement and well-being.

Can the school board approve a deficit budget?

The Education Act requires that school boards approve a balanced budget, unless the deficit can be covered by accumulated surplus (reserves) from prior years and is less than 1% of operating revenue from the Ministry of Education. Otherwise, the board must obtain approval of the Minister before final approval of the budget. A detailed plan must be provided to the provincial government outlining how the deficit will be eliminated.

When is the budget finalized?

The Board of Trustees must approve the final budget by the end of June each year.

What is the time period for the budget?

The budget covers a fiscal year from September 1 until August 31. WRDSB staff provide interim financial reports and forecast updates throughout the year to the Board of Trustees.

How do I engage in the WRDSB budget process?

Board Meetings are open to the public and are recorded and available for viewing on the YouTube live stream. If you have information that you would like the WRDSB to consider during future budget deliberations, you are encouraged to contact your Trustee.