A balanced budget, as promised.

Saskatchewan Finance Minister Donna Harpauer delivered the 2019-20 budget in the Legislature Wednesday afternoon, posting a $34 million surplus.

The budget includes revenues of $15.03 billion, up by roughly 5.5 percent from last year. Expenses are also up, coming in at $14.99 billion, an increase of 2.6 percent from last year.

“This budget also achieves the right balance by investing a total of $2.7 billion into hospitals, schools, highways, and municipal and Crown infrastructure to help meet the needs of a growing population and economy, while ensuring that debt is managed responsibly,” said Harpauer. “The 2019-20 Budget is part of our government’s plan to continue to balance into the future, and sustain needed investments in high-quality government services for all Saskatchewan people.”

Some of the highlights in the budget include $5.89 billion for health, an increase from 2018’s budget by 2.1 percent. The budget for health is also the largest single component of the province’s finances, accounting for 35 percent of all expenditures.

The increase includes $5 million for Weyburn and Prince Albert to allocate towards the next phases of their hospitals, however, there was no commitment from the province on when the hospital in Weyburn will be built.

There is also $402 million in funding for mental health and addictions services, an increase of $30 million. It includes money for 140 new beds for mental health and addictions treatment. The money for mental health services also provides for the creation of 18 walk-in counseling centers across the province. No details were released as to where the walk-in centers will be located.

Spending on social services and assistance was increased by 3.7 percent from last year to $1.43 billion. Of the increase, $27 million is for at-risk children and families. There was another $5.9 million in increased funding for community-based organizations which help deliver services to children and families, as well as support for people with intellectual disabilities.

The budget also includes $1.4 million for foster families who complete training.

Education saw a $19 million increase from the 2018-19 budget to $3.28 billion. Of the money allocated to education, $1.9 is directed to the province’s 27 school divisions to cover operating costs.

“This budget increases school division funding while Education Property Tax rates remain unchanged,” Harpauer said.

The budget for education also includes $29 million for the ongoing construction of two new schools in the province, including the Weyburn Elementary School. There is also $72 million for childcare, enough to accommodate more than 16,000 child care spaces.

Municipal sharing is being increased by $10.5 million from last year to more than $251 million.

“A new formula, developed by the province with the municipal sector, is based on revenue generated by three-quarters of one percentage point of the Provincial Sales Tax,” explained Harpauer.

The budget also includes over $437 million in direct provincial support for municipalities from various ministries. This is through revenue sharing, infrastructure funding and a number of grants and initiatives.

There is also an increase of $2.25 million for SARCAN.

New, non-refundable tax credits for volunteer firefighters and volunteer medical first responders were also unveiled in the budget. Starting in the 2020 taxation year, individuals with at least 200 hours of volunteer service in a year will be able to claim a $3,000 tax credit.

Measures were also included in the budget for the base payment component of the Potash Production Tax. Starting April 1st, there will be no deductions allowed, with the tax returning to a flat payment per tonne of potash sales.

We will have full coverage of the 2019 provincial budget, including local reactions.