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Building Levy Annual Statement 2010Parramatta Diocesan Catholic Schools CouncilDiocesan School Building Levy Fund Statement for 2010Opening Balance (broughtforward from previous year)Actual $2010Actual $20093,267,073 7,652,572Commercial kitchen at the Loyola Senior High SchoolTrade Training Centre, Mount DruittBishop Anthony Fisher OP blesses the Diocese’s newest school, OurLady of the Angels Primary, Rouse Hill with Fr Warren Edwardsplus Cash Receipts:School Building Levy 12,423,481 11,891,186Other Cash Contributions -Interest 166,841 260,371Total Cash Receipts 12,590,322 12,151,557less Cash Payments:A MESSAGE FROM BISHOP ANTHONY FISHER OPOver recent months, I have been visiting many schoolsin the Diocese for the opening and blessing of their newlearning spaces, which are funded under the AustralianGovernment’s Building the Education Revolution (BER)program. These vibrant and well-planned spaces have been avery worthwhile addition for our communities and will supportthe provision of a quality Catholic education to our families.The success of the Diocese’s response to the BER programis in a large part due to the commitment of our parishes andschools, and the Catholic Education Office, to plan spaces thatwill meet the needs of students and teachers now and as theDiocese continues to grow for many years to come. The hallswill also be a boon for our parishes and local communities.While the BER will run its course in the near future, the ongoingsupport and planning for future capital works projects willcontinue primarily through the Diocesan School Building Levy.The building levy enables us to combine our resources andensure all parish communities in the Diocese are able to meetFROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SCHOOLSThe Diocesan School Building Levy has enabledthe Diocese of Parramatta to fund the building andupgrade of our 78 schools over the past 14 years.The capital needs of our school communities have been metthrough the contribution of our Catholic school families andthe assistance of the Diocesan Development Fund, as well asfrom funding from successive state and federal governments.The support of our families through the building levy ensures theDiocese can continue to provide quality infrastructure and facilitiesto meet the learning and teaching needs of our school communitiesand cater to the growth of the system in the fast growing areasof western Sydney. The school building levy contributes to therepayment of loans for past building projects, currently accountingfor about two-thirds of the total annual levies received.Over the past two years, the Australian Government’s Buildingthe Education Revolution program has also provided a once in alifetime opportunity for schools to fast-track some building andSince the commencement of the Diocesan School Building Levy in1997, parishes have been relieved of any financial responsibility forsystemic Catholic schools in the Diocese. The cost of providing newfacilities and upgrading school buildings is shared by families withchildren attending our schools, the Parramatta Diocesan schoolsystem budget, and funding from state and federal governments.The building levy is charged per family and is collectedat the school attended by the eldest child in the family. Allrevenues from the levy are pooled and used to meet the costsof annual payments of principal on those school building loanstaken over from parishes from 1 January 1997, and one-offcash contributions and annual loan payments (debt servicing)associated with all new building projects approved by theParramatta Diocesan Catholic Schools Council (PDCSC). If, dueto financial hardship, a family is unable to pay the building levy,arrangements can be made to have the levy reduced or waived.The school building levy is a successful initiative which hasrefurbishment projects. However, the Australian Government’sinvestment is given on the proviso that our system will maintaincurrent levels of investment to school infrastructure in the future.The Diocese is committed to the ongoing investmentof world-class educational infrastructure to supportquality learning and teaching now, and in the future.I would like to thank our families, parish and schoolcommunities, the Parramatta Diocesan CatholicSchools Council under the chair of Bishop AnthonyFisher OP, and state and federal governments for theirongoing support of our capital works program.Gregory B WhitbyExecutive Director of SchoolsABOUT THE BUILDING LEVYthe desire of families for Catholic education, to a consistent highstandard, despite socio-economic differences in some areas.State and federal governments do provide some financialassistance, however we receive significantly less assistance forland purchase and building per capita than our governmentschool counterparts. This is why the Diocesan School BuildingLevy is a vital source of income for our school communities.In commending this report to you, I wish to thank allthose who have given of their time and resources toensure the ongoing sustainability of our school buildingprogram and thank those who have contributed fortheir continued cooperation and generosity.Most Rev Anthony Fisher opBishop of Parramattaenabled necessary school facilities to be established in thediocese far sooner than would otherwise have been the case. Asa consequence, staff and students are accommodated in learningenvironments consistent with the high standard of education thatparents have come to expect of Catholic schools in the Diocese.Substantial levels of capital investment will be required wellinto the future to meet the needs of our fast growing Diocese.Furthermore, to maintain standards at their present level, and tomake improvements where necessary, funds for capital replacementwill also be needed. The use of the levy for these purposes isas important today as it was when the fund was established.In determining the projects that will be undertakeneach year, the PDCSC receives advice from its Financialand Physical Resources Committee based on submissionsreceived from schools. Priority is based on educationalneeds and standards relating to area, the functionality andrelationship of spaces, and the quality of accommodation.Debt Servicing (7,623,197) (7,210,848)Cash Contribution (4,030,829) (9,326,209)Total Cash Payments (11,654,026) (16,537,056)Closing Balance (carry forward to next year) 4,203,369 3,267,073less Commitments:Non-Loan Cash Contributions(for approved projects awaiting construction in 2011)(4,600,000) (4,500,000)Total Funds After Commitments (396,631) (1,232,927)Note 1: Accounts are prepared on a cash basisNote 2: 2010 Financial Year covers the period from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2010.Construction Program:The continuing success of the Diocesan School Building Levy has enabledthe Parramatta Diocesan Catholic Schools Council to implement its policy tobring all schools up to the levels established by the Bishops of NSW, basedon Australian Government standards. The current construction program totals$232m of projects planned for construction between 2011 and 2020:SchoolLocationSt Michael’s PrimaryBaulkham HillsSt Michaels PrimaryBlacktown SouthProposed PrimaryBox HillProposed SecondaryBox HillSt Bernadette’s PrimaryCastle HillGilroy Catholic CollegeCastle HillMcCarthy Catholic CollegeEmu PlainsDelany CollegeGranvilleOur Lady Queen of Peace Primary GreystanesSt Paul’s CollegeGreystanesSt Patrick’s PrimaryGuildfordSt Clare’s Catholic CollegeHassall GroveOur Lady of the Rosary PrimaryKellyvilleMarian Catholic CollegeKenthurstSt Andrews PrimaryMarayongSt AndrewsMarayongCerdon CollegeMerrylandsSacred Heart PrimaryMount DruittLoyola Senior High SchoolMount DruittGood Shepherd PrimaryPlumptonSt John’s PrimaryRiverstoneSt Agnes High SchoolRooty HillOur Lady of the Angels PrimaryRouse HillSt Josephs PrimarySchofieldsTerra Sancta High SchoolSchofieldsSt Columbas High SchoolSpringwoodOur Lady of the Rosary PrimarySt MarysJohn XXIII Catholic PrimaryStanhope GardensSt Mark’s Catholic CollegeStanhope GardensMother Teresa Primary*WestmeadCatherine McAuleyWestmeadParramatta Marist HighWestmeadBede Polding CollegeWindsor SouthTO VIEW THE FULL BUILDING LEVY REPORT VISIT WWW.PARRA.CATHOLIC.EDU.AU