B.C. Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid is laying down the law to the Vancouver School Board — ordering trustees to send her a draft budget by June 18.
She also wants trustees to consider a number of cost-cutting options from last week’s comptroller-general’s report on the district’s finances.
The board currently faces a $17-million budget deficit, and has to submit a final and balanced budget to MacDiarmid by June 30.
Last week’s report recommended almost $12 million in other cost saving schemes.
They include closing schools, winning contract concessions from workers and charging higher rent to childcare centres.