There will be less money for supplies in Langley schools as the district begins paying down a $13 million deficit this year.
If funding rises for some programs and services, the money will have to be found through cutting elsewhere.
More school bus routes could be eliminated and individual schools will have less say over spending.
That was the message of Langley school district secretary-treasurer David Green, the man with the task of finding at least $3.375 million every year for the next four years to pay down the district debt.
Green gave trustees an advance look at the 2011-2012 budget process during their Jan. 25 meeting, saying the district should aim to find $4 million a year to pay down the deficit sooner than scheduled, something he believes is possible, if not painless.
“Difficult decisions will have to be made,” Green said.
“Its going to be a challenging process”
Green warned the district’s “outdated” decentralized spending system must be changed in a way that reduces the power of individual schools to spend money.
Trustees will get their first detailed look at the budget in February.
