â–ş Listen Live
â–ş Listen Live

UNBC approves balanced budget by eliminating 21 positions

The UNBC Board of Governors has approved a balanced budget, but not without making some tough choices.

The combined general operating and ancillary services balanced budget for the upcoming year is worth $105 million.

However, due to budgetary challenges, Interim President Doctor Geoff Payne says they had to eliminate 21 CUPE, exempt, and faculty positions.

Eight of those positions were CUPE 3799 staff and 12 were vacant.

“We did set up principles in terms of ensuring we wouldn’t impact the core mission of the university. Students, faculty, research, teaching and the infrastructure to support that,” said Payne.

“Although everything is extremely important at the university, those are the terms we used in making those extremely unfortunate, tough decisions.”

The university was dealing with a potential deficit of $3.4 million.

They were able to trim that number down by $1.4 million by eliminating the positions.

Other operating expense reductions were cut, as well as temporary adjustments of allocations to reserves that have sufficient balances to maintain activities at the same level as previous years helped the Board cut an extra $2 million from the number.

Tuition will also be increased by two percent for all students.

About 60% of the University’s General Operating Fund revenue is provided by the Government of B.C., while approximately 23% comes from tuition and fees.

Wages and benefits account for about 70% of the University’s total operating expenditures.

The tuition fee for an average full-time undergraduate student is now $5,533 per year, an increase of $109 (2%) from last year.

The budget decision was made before the pandemic.

“We still have not fully realized the impacts that COVID-19 is going to have on the institution,” said Dr. Payne.

Something going on in the Prince George area you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].

Catherine Garrett
Catherine Garrett
Catherine is an anchor and reporter in the MyPGNow newsroom. Born in Ontario, raised on Haida Gwaii, she now is living in Prince George. She obtained a diploma in Broadcast and Online Journalism at BCIT. You can find her on Twitter @Cath_Garrett

Continue Reading

cjci Now playing play

cirx Now playing play

- Advertisement -

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

PG parking lot reopened after explosive device found to be inert

The Prince George RCMP reopened the parking lot near the intersection of Victoria Street and Patricia Boulevard at 1:00 this morning.

PG sibling duo makes it to Amazing Race Canada final

The finale of the 11th season airs at 9pm Pacific Time on Tuesday where the challenge takes place in Collingwood, Ontario.

No flyers for you: Postal Workers Union begins neighbourhood mail ban

The postal company recently reported a second-quarter loss of $407 million, marking the Corporation’s largest loss before tax in a single quarter.From 2018 to the second quarter of 2025, the company has posted cumulative losses from operations of more than $5 billion

More Shaikh Al Kar products recalled in B.C. due to salmonella

A recall of Shaikh Al Kar products due to possible salmonella contamination is expanding in British Columbia. 

More Shaikh Al Kar products recalled in B.C. due to salmonella

A recall of Shaikh Al Kar products due to possible salmonella contamination is expanding in British Columbia. 
- Advertisement -