The 2023/24 budget developed by Provincial Executive Council (PEC) is continuing to move forward, with the final step being presentation to the 106th Annual Representative Assembly for debate and approval by the teacher delegates gathered in Edmonton on the Victoria Day long weekend (May 20–22).
While an organization’s budget is often viewed as a financial document, the budget of the Alberta Teachers’ Association is also a reflection of the Association’s values, priorities, programs and activities for the upcoming year. As the proposal was being prepared, PEC considered options, deliberated and made critical choices, balancing financial considerations and member feedback before arriving at the proposed budget to be presented at ARA to delegates. At ARA, the work of delegates will be not only to consider the broad financial implications of the proposal, but also to examine the merit of the proposed programs and consider their value to members, to education and to the Association. We expect delegates will have thoughtful questions to ask, and your elected representatives and staff are ready to answer them.
Broadly considered, this budget is intended to enable the Association to continue providing the programs and services that are of direct and immediate benefit to members in the 2023/24 fiscal and school year. Furthermore, the budget will fund important initiatives to strengthen operational productivity and provide enhanced service to members while containing costs. While the proposed budget for 2023/2024 has remained largely consistent with 2022/2023, there are a few high-level considerations for members to be aware of.
Firstly, on the staffing side, no new FTEs have been added to the current complement. Efforts continue internally to reallocate and redesign work processes to meet the changing needs of the Association and its members using the current staff complement.
Additionally, aligned to the Association’s ongoing commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action, included in the current budget draft is a proposal to increase by seven the corps of Indigenous education professional development facilitators from the current complement of 18, bringing the total number to 25. These teacher volunteers will support staff in meeting the demand for this important programming.
Secondly, in recognition of the Association’s modified role, discipline-related committee expenses have been adjusted or deleted within the Government program area even as we plan to provide additional resources to represent members who are subject to the government’s conduct and competence processes. This is still very much an evolving situation, and we expect to know more as we proceed through 2023.
Finally, some of what we learned from having operated virtually for approximately 24 months during the pandemic has led to committee budget lines being reduced by 10 per cent from the current 2022/23 budget.
Beyond the challenges and responses noted, the Association continues to respond to the strictures imposed by the Alberta government’s Restoring Balance in Alberta’s Workplaces Act (AKA Bill 32), specifically key changes that took effect on Feb. 1, 2022. Managing this situation proactively in 2021/22, Provincial Executive Council established a new Defense and Advocacy Fund (DAF) and allocated a $16 million transfer to it from the Special Emergency Fund. Reflecting this, the 2023/24 budget is structured slightly differently than in previous years, with a separate section for the estimated $377,000 that will not be funded by member fees, but rather from investment income distributions flowing from the DAF.
Based on feedback from locals demonstrating broad support for the programs and services included in the draft budget circulated and given that the proposed budget revenues can be realized within the current fee, Council is recommending no change to the current annual fee of $1,347 for the 2023/24 fiscal year. On a year-over-year basis, budgeted total expenditures and allocations for 2023/24 are two per cent lower compared to the 2022/23 budget.
The following provides highlights of new programs and completed or discontinued programs within the proposed 2023/24 budget.
Sample of proposed 2023/24 new initiatives
Specialist council carousels — Professional Development:
The proposed budget will allow two symposium-style “carousels” and smaller regional workshop or online events each year at which Association staff and specialist councils can provide focused professional development for student members from across the province.
Women in leadership grant — non-departmental commitments:
The Association encourages its locals to establish women in educational leadership (WIL) committees. At this point, at least 50 per cent of locals have established WIL committees. The grant proposed is planned to run as a pilot program in 2023/24 and would provide support to WIL committees and teachers in locals that plan to engage in projects that promote gender equity. The budgeted amount for the grants is $10,000 and each eligible project would be provided with up to $2,000 per grant awarded.
Beginning Teachers’ Conference — Professional Development:
In 2022, following two years of virtual format, a single event was held in Edmonton for all beginning teachers from across the province. Within the 2023/24 proposed budget, two Beginning Teachers’ Conferences are planned and would take place in each of Edmonton and Calgary.
Cloud hosting — Information Technology Services:
Cloud hosting makes applications and websites accessible using cloud resources and generally reduces the need for expensive capital IT investment in back-end infrastructure, i.e. servers. It also allows the Association to access support as part of the service package without having to directly staff positions, at considerable and rising cost. With the Association continuing to migrate more of its operations to the cloud and rely more on subscription-based and “pay as you go” platforms, such as M365, there will be a continued need to procure cloud-hosting services going forward.
Completed/discontinued initiatives
Given the Association’s evolving role with respect to discipline, the following committees are no longer budgeted as of 2023/24:
- Complainant Appeal
- Professional Practice Review
- Professional Practice Complainant Appeal
- Professional Practice Appeal
Proposed annual fee for 2023/24
Provincial Executive Council is proposing no increase to the Association member fee, maintaining it at $1,347.
| 2022/23 approved fee | 2023/24 proposed fee | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fee | $1,347.00 | $1,347.00 |
| Funding for programs for which the local rebate does not apply | $156.00 | $153.00 |
| Net fee to distribute | $1,191.00 | $1,194.00 |
| Local rebate at 20% | $238.20 | $238.80 |
| Balance of net fee (80%) | $952.80 | $955.20 |
Budget by program area
There are two parts to the Association’s budget. The first part includes programs funded by the portion of the 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. Generally, this is referred to as the rebatable section of the budget. The remaining portion of the fee is used to help fund activities and/or programs not subject to the local rebate. This section is often referred to as the non-rebatable section of the budget.
Part 1: Budget subject to local rebate
| Program area | Mandate | 2021/22 approved budget | 2022/23 proposed budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Employment Services |
|
$8,703,400 | $8,698,600 |
| Professional Development |
|
$5,604,600 | $5,609,800 |
| Government |
|
$10,533,100 | $9,997,000 |
| Building |
|
$3,248,000 | $3,306,000 |
| Operations |
|
$5,860,200 | $5,785,000 |
| Nondepartmental commitments |
|
$1,828,700 | $1,708,200 |
|
Food Services |
|
$784,600 | $822,100 |
| Information and Technology Services |
|
$2,294,900 | $2,754,800 |
Part 2: Budget not subject to local rebate
Member fees required to fund the second part of the budget are not subject to the local rebate, and 100 per cent of these fees are available to fund provincial Association programs. The table below compares expenditures and allocations for the 2022/23 approved budget and the 2023/24 proposed budget and provides a brief description of the nature of the expenditures.
| Expenditure and allocation |
Description | 2021/22 approved budget |
2022/23 proposed budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Teachers’ Federation | Provides support for the Canadian Teachers’ Federation based on a per capita fee | $1,060,700 | $1,060,700 |
| Capital fund | Provides an annual allocation to the fund, which is used to purchase any capital assets and to fund capital projects | $940,700 | $400,000 |
| Special emergency fund | Provides an annual allocation to the fund, which is used to fund emergent actions as approved by Provincial Executive Council | $0 | $0 |
| 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 | $800,000 | $800,000 |
| Specialist council membership grants | Provides the annual operating grants to the Association’s 21 specialist councils | $870,000 | $870,000 |
| Accountability action plan |
Provides funding to support international partnerships focused on advancing system reform, as well as collaboration with subgroups and like-minded teachers’ organizations that advance the profession’s views | $105,000 | $105,000 |
| Mortgage | Provides for principal and interest payments on the mortgages in place for construction and renovations that were completed | $2,323,000 | $2,323,000 |
| Public relations campaign | Provides funding for a multidimensional public relations campaign to highlight the work of the Association and teachers to increase public awareness about the importance of public education and the need for appropriate funding for education | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
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