2018/19 Proposed Budget

The budget proposed by Provincial Executive Council (PEC) is just a step away from becoming the approved budget for the 2018/19 fiscal year. The final (and very important) step in this process is membership approval. On the Victoria Day long weekend, local delegates to the 101st Annual Representative Assembly (ARA) will gather in Calgary to consider, among other matters, the approval of the proposed budget.

While a budget is viewed by most as a financial document, the Association’s budget also sets the direction for Association activities and programs for the upcoming year. PEC makes critical choices based on financial realities and member feedback before presenting the proposed budget at ARA where delegates will focus on much more than dollars and cents. They will also examine the merit of the proposed programs and consider their value to members, to education and to the Association.

Based on feedback from locals as well as economic projections by the Government of Alberta, Council is recommending a fee increase of $6 to the annual Association fee of $1,242, resulting in a fee of $1,248 for the 2018/19 fiscal year. In the following pages are highlights of new programs and completed or discontinued programs that make up the proposed budget.

Proposed new initiatives for 2019/20

Blue Ribbon Panel review

The budget will provide funding to revisit the report of the Blue Ribbon Panel on Inclusive Education in Alberta Schools to assess progress and the cost and effectiveness of government and school board responses.

Education program for central office teachers
An education program will be put in place to provide services to teachers who work in central office roles.

Committee on Violence in the Workplace
In order to address the growth of violence in schools, this committee will review Association and school authority policies that relate to violence in the workplace and support the design of appropriate research activity.

Teacher Welfare Area Conference
An additional conference will be held in the spring of each year to provide a provincewide forum for bargaining unit leaders as a result of the move to central table bargaining.

Executive staff officer — Member Services
Increases in discipline caseload and complexity require additional staff resources so that the Association can continue to meet legislated obligations with respect to discipline.

Executive staff officer — Professional Development
This additional position will provide essential support to teachers as new teaching standards and a new curriculum are promulgated by the government for implementation at the board, school and classroom levels.

The budget for these proposed programs is $575,000.

Completed/discontinued initiatives

A number of programs will be completed or discontinued at the end of 2017/18 and will be removed from the budget. These programs include

the Centennial Planning Committee,
the Alberta Education Annual Forum,
the Field Member Education Program,
the Strategic Leadership Seminar,
the Education Act Implementation,
the SRS Pilot Evaluation,
the Committee on Convention Review,
the Teacher Welfare Area Field Service Meetings and
the 100th Anniversary Committee.

The budget allocated for these programs in 2017/18 was $325,600.

Proposed annual fee for 2018/19

Provincial Executive Council is proposing a $6 increase to the Association member fee for 2018/19, bringing it to $1,248 per member.

	2017/18 approved fee	2018/19 proposed fee
Funding for programs for which the local rebate does not apply	$171.00	$162.00
Funding for programs for which the local rebate applies	$856.80	$868.80
Local rebate	$214.20	$217.20
Total Fee	$1,242.00	$1,248.00

Budget by program area

There are two parts to the Association’s budget. The first part includes programs that are funded by a fee that is subject to a local rebate. In other words, for each dollar of the membership fee that is applied to this part of the budget, 20 per cent is rebated to local associations to fund their operations. The second part includes programs that are funded by a fee that is not subject to the local rebate.

Part 1: Budget subject to local rebate

The table below compares program area expenditures for the 2017/18 approved budget and the 2018/19 proposed budget. It also provides a general description of the mandate of each program area.

Program area	Mandate	2017/18 approved budget	2018/19 proposed budget
Teacher Welfare	To improve the economic well-being of teachers through work in collective bargaining, pension and insurance To effect increases in the funding for education	$3,689,000	$3,855,200
Member Services	To provide services to individual members on matters requiring discipline, legal assistance and professional relations To provide general service to and consultation with locals, sublocals and staff as requested To enhance awareness of the Association’s services	$5,087,900	$5,295,300
Professional Development	To provide for the improvement of teaching practice through specialist councils, conventions, curriculum work, current issues, local leadership development, assistance to local PD committees, field service and representation to other subgroups To prepare a corps of instructors and facilitators; to improve the preservice education of teachers and liaise with other agencies in these fields and extended field experiences	$5,358,500	$5,698,500
Government	To govern the Association and provide for its obligations beyond Alberta’s borders To liaise with other organizations within Alberta To maintain communications internally with the membership and externally with the public To improve conditions for education through political involvement of members	$8,719,900	$9,190,700
Building	To provide and maintain physical facilities for Association offices in Edmonton and Calgary	$2,697,200	$2,903,100
Operations	To provide for the financial and business operation of the Association, including business management, finance, general office work, human resources and document production To provide services to other program areas and subgroups	$4,861,500	$5,059,500
Nondepartmental Commitments	To provide for items which are not directly a part of any other department and for items affecting all or most other departments but that cannot be reasonably provided for within the department	$1,769,100	$1,894,200
Food Services	To provide a catering service for participants at various meetings and other functions held in Barnett House To operate a cafeteria service for staff, tenants and the public	$703,300	$808,700
Information and Technology Services	To maintain and safeguard the Association’s information technology systems and equipment and to develop and maintain electronic capabilities and processes required by other program areas	$2,198,100	$2,236,300

Part 2: Budget not subject to local rebate

Member fees required to fund part two are not subject to the local rebate, and 100 per cent of these fees is available to fund provincial Association programs. The table below compares expenditures and allocations for the 2017/18 approved budget and the 2018/19 proposed budget and provides a brief description of the nature of the expenditures.

Expenditure and allocation	Description	2016/17 approved budget	2017/18 proposed budget
Canadian Teachers’ Federation	Provides support for the Federation based on a per capita fee	$1,028,700	$,1,092,900
Capital fund	Provides an annual allocation to the fund, which is used to purchase any capital assets	$1,473,000	$1,087,600
Special emergency fund	Provides an annual allocation to the fund, which is used to fund emergent actions as approved by Provincial Executive Council	$652,000	$9,200
Technology services project development	Provides annual funding for projects related to membership application services, online services, unified communications, strategic technology management and reporting, workflow and form services	$700,000	$700,000
Specialist council membership grants	Provides the annual operating grants to the Association’s 21 specialist councils	$774,500	$870,000
Accountability action plan	Provides funding for the Real Learning First program, a multifaceted plan that focuses on accountability in education as it relates to the teacher’s role in student assessment, evaluation and reporting	$135,000	$135,000
Mortgage	Provides principal and interest payments on the mortgage obtained for the Seymour Tower renovations	$1,200,000	$2,200,000
Media campaign	Provides funding for a media campaign to highlight the contributions made by teachers and the Association in order to increase the interest of the general public about the importance of education and the teaching profession	$1,000,000	$1,000,000
100th anniversary celebration	Provides funds for the celebration and promotion of the Association’s 100th anniversary	$158,000	-
2Learn.ca	The Association is proposing to take over control of this program, which is in jeopardy of folding.	$146,000	$146,000

The Alberta Teachers’ Association