Budget Process and Staffing Updates

As in previous years, the budget planning and development process will move forward with a focus on supporting student achievement and well-being. This site is created to inform our community throughout the budget and staffing process by sharing latest news, critical timelines, and related reports.

Ministry of Education

• Core Education Funding has yet to be announced.  Please use the link to find the 2025-2026 Cored Education Funding details along with funding details from previous years.

Budget Development Process Timelines

• December: Key Parameters and Assumptions to Guide Budget Development
• January: Budget Priorities to Guide the Development of the Budget Consultation
• February to May:
  • Enrolment Projections
  • Executive Council and Finance & Facilities Committee to receive budget information to make decisions on staffing to meet collective agreement timelines
  • Budget developed based on staff discussions with Budget Holders and Executive Council members and budget consultation results with refinements to reflect any new information
• March 24: School Based Staffing Recommendations to Finance and Facilities Committee
• April 14: Non-School Based Staffing Recommendations to Finance and Facilities Committee
• TBD: Release of Ministry funding model for 2026/27
• May to June: Finalize preliminary budget and recommendations based on information received from the funding announcement
• By June 30: Approval of Budget and submission to Ministry

2025-2026 Budget Consultation

HWDSB’s budget consultation was available for the community to provide their input and feedback from Tuesday March 3, 2026 until Friday March 20, 2026.

Budget Priorities

HWDSB budget consultation was made available for the community to provide input and feedback beginning Tuesday March 3, 2026 until Friday March 20, 2026.   Results from the consultation are being analyzed and will be brought to the Finance & Facilities Committee at the April 14, 2026 meeting.  A summary of the results will also be posted here.

Projected enrolment

HWDSB has projected its enrolment for 2026-27 based on the best information available at this time. The projections include a decrease from 2025-26.

The key objective of the Budget Development Process, including Public Consultation, is to align the allocation of resources with the Board’s Multi-Year Strategic Plan, Indigenous Education Circle Strategic Action Plan, Equity Action Plan, identify school-based staffing requirements; identify budget challenges and opportunities, and the development of key messages to be included in the communication plan.