Kamloops trustee asks fellow school board members to forgo pay in face of budget shortfall

A Kamloops school trustee is proposing elected officials in charge of the region’s schools suspend their pay in the face of a budget shortfall and impending staff cuts.

Trustee Jodhbir Kang’s motion calls for monthly payments to cease until the end of the next school year, meaning a savings of nearly $266,000 next year if approved later this month, not including the remainder of this year.

Kang took to social media to announce his motion, reflecting on the “difficult decisions” School District 73 is facing to make up for a $6 million budget shortfall.

“As a trustee elected by the community, I believe it’s important to demonstrate leadership during challenging times,” he said in an X.com post.

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The Kamloops-Thompson school district is considering cutting 77 jobs, including teachers and support staff, as it cannot run a deficit. The district pointed to the province’s failure to keep up education funding with inflation, something echoed by other school districts in BC.

In the Central Okanagan, for example, the district is facing a $5 million shortfall, where it’s cutting administrative staff as part of its effort to make up the difference, according to a report released April 11.

Seven Kamloops-Thompson trustees are paid nearly $28,000 per year, while the board chair earns $32,782 and the vice-chair, $29,726. All receive a $1,000 technology allowance.

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The effort won’t solve its budget problems, but Kang said it’s about setting an example for the public.

“This proposal is not just about Dollars and cents — it’s about trust, accountability and leading by example. Our duty is to serve the public: students, families, educators, support staff and the broader community,” he said in his social media post. “It’s only right that we have this conversation openly and transparently.”