Message from the Treasurer
Steve Geist
Financial Report
The final quarter of Fiscal 2020 was the start of a truly unprecedented period for the College – one filled with uncertainty and a continued need for prudent fiscal management. At the time the province closed schools to in-person learning in mid-March, the College was fortunate to be in a position of full enrolment and have a community of students and employees who were able to change course quickly to remote learning and work. As most of the revenues and expenses of the College had been committed and set at the time of the closure, the impact on the results for Fiscal 2020 was not significant. Full enrolment for the year resulted in tuition and other revenues of $15.4 million compared to $15.2 million in the prior year. Expenses, of which close to 75 per cent were salaries and benefits, totaled $16 million compared to $15.8 million in 2019. In addition, the RSGC community generously provided $950,000 in both unrestricted and restricted capital and academic related donations. We were fortunate to have completed the final phase of the Junior School Redevelopment Plan in the summer of 2019, which allowed us to start the 2019/2020 school year in a completely renovated Junior School. The cost of the final phase of the project, which created bright, modern learning spaces for our students in the lower level, was $1.3 million, comprising most of the $1.4 million expended on capital projects during the year. With the unique challenges facing the school at the start of the school year in September 2020, the renovated space also proved to be valuable in planning for the return to school.
No new debt was required during the year and existing loans were paid down by $427,000, leaving outstanding debt of $519,000 as at June 30, 2020. Just over 50 per cent of this balance will come due in the coming year. After the school closure in March, one of the key roles of the Audit and Finance Committee, working with the Board and Management, was to ensure the ongoing financial sustainability of the College. As planning quickly turned to bringing staff and students back to a safe space when schools were permitted to re-open, it became apparent that there would be a significant financial cost to ensure the health and safety of the community. The Audit and Finance Committee and the Board approved, in early October 2020, a revised budget for the 2020/2021 year, which incorporated the projected cost of these requirements. While enrolment remains strong for the coming year, additional expenses will be incurred for items such as enhancements to our HVAC systems, additional faculty to accommodate necessary social distancing, classroom technology, a school nurse, more housekeeping staff and equipment for increased sanitization of spaces, rental of portable washrooms and protective personal equipment – all resulting in a projected loss for the upcoming year. Due to strong enrolment in recent years, careful budgeting and a supportive community, the College is in a strong financial position to sustain this impact. The Audit and Finance Committee will continue to work with Management and the Board throughout the year, and in planning for 2021/2022, to ensure resources are appropriately prioritized to meet the objectives of the College during this difficult time.