By Gazette Staff
December 18th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Over the past few years, the education sector has faced unprecedented challenges and funding pressures. Student enrolment will continue to decline over the next two years due to aging neighbourhoods and slower growth in new development areas in Halton. With student enrolment as the main driver of school board funding, this will result in less funding received.
Declining enrollment will see fewer schools with this kind of student population
The HDSB has budgeted for a $7.1 million deficit in the current year and is required by regulation to eliminate this deficit next school year (2026-2027). Balancing the budget will require eliminating the existing deficit and identifying additional reductions to address further enrolment decline.
Parents/guardians, students, staff and community members are encouraged to review budget information on the Budget Input webpage and submit questions through the Public Information Session Question Form by Monday, Jan. 12 at 4 p.m. Questions will be answered during the session and through a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document posted on the website. Opportunities to provide feedback on the budget will be shared following the session.
The budget development process aligns the allocation of resources to the HDSB’s strategic priorities, as outlined in the 2024-2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan.
HDSB 2024-2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan
The 2024-2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan sets direction and prioritizes the collective actions of all students, staff, families and community members. This plan ensures our efforts as an organization are aligned and
coordinated to support more than 65,000 students, 11,000 staff and the broader HDSB community. The six commitments identified in this four-year plan intersect and overlap to ensure that we take a cohesive approach to fulfilling its objectives.
Background resources
Budget & Financial Information webpage
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