Despite growing enrolment and a funding boost, the Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) reported a $18.6 million deficit in its newly approved operating budget — a shortfall it’s covering with savings, and leaders warn that approach is unsustainable.
Calgary’s Catholic School District announced its budget at Wednesday’s regular board of trustees meeting. The 2025/26 budget calls for $723.3 million in revenue and $741.9 million in expenditures, resulting in a deficit.
The CCSD said, in a prepared media release, that expenditures increased $31.9 million over the prior year’s budget, primarily due to additional staff needed to support enrollment growth and salary and benefit increases.
“Our board continues to ask that the government increase classroom dollars and supports, as the education system is still underfunded and it is unsustainable to continue to use savings,” said Chief Superintendent Dr. Bryan Szumlas.
The budget comes days after new schools were announced province-wide, with the CCSD set to add to their existing 118 schools across Calgary, Airdrie, Cochrane, Chestermere and the Rocky View County.
Inflation has also impacted the district’s budget, mainly on software and transportation costs.
The district’s budgeted operating reserves for August 2026, excluding school-generated funds, are projected to be $7.4 million.
According to the release, the district has been relying on these savings to balance the budget, which is not sustainable.
In a statement, Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said that the Alberta governement is “confident the board has the funding it needs.”
“Alberta government funding for Calgary Catholic’s operations is up 3.3 per cent to $631 million for the 2025-26 school year. With $31.8 million in their operating reserves, we’re confident the board has the funding it needs to provide a world-class education for its students,” he said.
“We also currently have 11 active school projects underway with Calgary Catholic, to meet the future space needs of their growing student population.”
New funding model better suited to Catholic district
The Alberta government announced a new funding model in Budget 2025. The new Adjusted Enrolment Method (AEM) model bases 70 per cent of district funding on projected students for 2025-2026 and 30 per cent on 2024-2025 estimated students.
The AEM model better supports districts such as the CCSD, according to CCSD Board Chair Shannon Cook.
By October 2025, the CCSD anticipates enrolment growth of over 1,400 students, meaning 760 more students funded through the AEM calculation, the release reads.
“With no increase to base instruction grant rates, the rising costs of salaries, benefits and inflation largely remain unaddressed,” Cook said.
“More needs to be done to address student complexity in the classroom.”
The province has acknowledged CCSD’s concerns and continues to fund the Mental Health and Well-Being Grant, according to Cook.
“With additional resources, staff and space urgently needed, advocacy for adequate and sustainable funding continues, in support of students realizing their full potential, centred in Christ,” she said.
