Surrey Schools trustee disappointed in B.C. budget funding

A Surrey School District trustee says the lack of a big boost in funding for schools in the city shows the B.C. government doesn’t think Surrey is a priority.

Trustee Garry Thind says the district has a $16-million deficit heading into next year and $5 billion worth of projects on its wish list.

“If we don’t get funding for bussing, if we don’t get funding for portables, the inflationary factors, the Strong Start Program, … the facilities that we are renting out — if that funding is not coming directly to our operating grant, somehow we have to balance the budget and we have to find the resources,” Thind said Thursday.

As part of the province’s budget tabled in the Legislature on Tuesday, the 2025 budget included $370 million to hire more teachers and special education teachers, psychologists, and counsellors.

It also outlined $4.6 billion in capital funding for projects around the province, but none specifically itemized for Surrey.

“Capital investments of $4.6 billion over three years will go toward building, renovating and seismically upgrading schools. Major projects include $392 million in prefabricated school projects that will create 6,485 new seats across 16 school districts; $203 million for the new 1,900-seat Smith Secondary school in Langley; and $151 million for the new 630-seat Olympic Village elementary school in Vancouver,” Budget 2025 stated.

Thind suggests students in Surrey will pay the price if the province doesn’t come through with more money for the district.

“It’s not enough. At some point, the premier’s office, the Treasury Board, the education ministry, and the finance minister, you all need to sit on one table and make education their priority,” he added.

“The government needs to fast-track their policies and procedures, and even the City of Surrey, they need to fast-track our application process.”