The Greater Victoria School District (SD61) held a public meeting on March 9, 2026, to discuss the preliminary budget development process for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year. This session, led by the district’s administration, provided families with an overview of how the district plans to allocate resources for school programs, staff, and building repairs.
The district is currently working through the early stages of its financial planning. While specific shortfall figures for the 2026-2027 cycle are still being finalized following the district’s $5.1 million deficit in the previous year, officials noted that inflationary pressures continue to impact operations. Under provincial law, school districts in British Columbia are required to approve a balanced budget, which means they cannot spend more money than they receive in funding.
For families in the View Royal catchment area, these financial decisions will help determine the number of staff members in local classrooms and the level of funding available for school maintenance. View Royal is served by several SD61 schools, including Eagle View Elementary and Shoreline Middle School.
The district’s Official Trustee, who currently oversees the district in place of the previously elected board, began formal planning for this budget cycle during a meeting on December 8, 2025. The trustee is responsible for making the final decisions on district finances while adhering to provincial regulations.
Local residents are encouraged to review upcoming budget documents and participate in public engagement sessions to see how potential changes might affect their neighbourhood schools. The final budget, which sets spending priorities for all district schools, must be approved by the end of June 2026.
