Budget-wise, things are looking good for the Chinook School Division through the first three months of the academic year.

But at Monday's board meeting in Swift Current there was talk that a carbon tax could make things challenging.

Plant expenditures - which comprises things like heating fuel and electricity - are quite weather dependent.

At the meeting, the board's Chief Financial Officer Rod Quintin said they can't control their consumption, and a carbon tax will bring even more uncertainty.

The board doesn't know what the levy will be that comes into place on April 1. There was also talk that if there are incentives for energy efficiency, they may not get any kind of a rebate if they already are at a given level of efficiency.

As of the end of November, 22 per cent of the plant budget has been used, which the expenditures report says is tracking slightly lower than the prior year.

Twenty-five per cent of the governance budget had been used by the end of November, which is under budget (with most expenditures being 10-month things, excluding July and August).

Administration is at 23.2 per cent, which is slightly under budget. That's an area that is 12 months in nature.

Instructional expenses are at 27.1 per cent, which is slightly under budget. And transportation is on track, at 24 per cent.