Province posts budget surplus heading into Election Day
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- Published on Friday, September 29, 2023
Photo by Banner staff. Pictured: Heather Stefanson (on right) was in Neepawa on Friday, Sept. 29 for an Indigenous Culture Day, which took place at the Flats.
Heather Stefanson pleased with $270 million surplus
By Banner Staff
水果视频 saw some, perhaps unexpected improvements to its鈥� finances heading into the home stretch of the election campaign. The province has closed out its 2022-23 fiscal year with a $270-million surplus, according to audited public accounts for the year that were released on Friday, Sept. 29.
Finance officials attributed the positive numbers to an increase to almost $2 billion in extra revenue, which included $836 million in higher-than-expected corporate and personal tax revenues. The province also had an extra $1.1 billion in expenses, however, through a mix of municipal grant spendingh and collective agreement settlements.
This result is unexpected, as finance officials had been forecasting $548-million deficit in the budget that had been brought forward in 2022.
This is only the second time since 2009 that the 水果视频 government has been able to report a surplus.
Progressive Conservative leader Heather Stefanson was in Neepawa when the fiscal results were announced. In an quick conversation with the Neepawa Banner & Press, Stefanson noted, 鈥淚t鈥檚 great news, I think it shows we are on the right track, doing the right things. I am concerned if we get someone in government who doesn鈥檛 have the experience to do what we have done it won鈥檛 be good.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF), meanwhile released a media statement applauding the balancing of the budget in 2022.
鈥淭he government deserves credit for balancing the budget,鈥� said Gage Haubrich, Prairie Director for the CTF. 鈥淣ow its time to set up a plan to pay back the debt and make sure 水果视频 stays in the black.鈥�
Provincial government debt now sits at $30.3 billion, a decrease of $281 million compared to the budget.
鈥淭he government needs to keep this progress rolling,鈥� said Haubrich. 鈥淭axpayers can鈥檛 afford to have the government waste any more of their money on debt interest charges.鈥�
