The Government of Saskatchewan highlights the highest ever education and health funding in the 2024-25 budget, the largest ever increase in municipal revenue sharing, as well as no new taxes or tax increases.
Finance Minister Donna Harpauer says municipal revenue sharing will increase by 14.2 per cent, for a total of $340.2 million and the provincially set portion of property tax, the Education Property Tax Mill rates will stay the same The Small Business Corporate Income Tax will not increase this fiscal year and will remain at one per cent until June 30th next year.
The overall revenue forecast is $19.9 billion, up just over $184 million from last year, primarily due to growth in all revenue categories, except non-renewable resources, mostly due to the moderation of potash prices. Expenses for the fiscal year are projected at $20.1 billion, an increase of 7.9 per cent over the current year’s budget. The projected deficit is just over $273 million, but Harpauer expects to return to a surplus in 2025-26 due to increasing revenues from a growing population, labour force and economy.
The education budget for schools totals $3.3 billion, an increase of 8.1 per cent for Prekindergarten to Grade 12 schools, early learning and childcare, and libraries. As was previously announced, school divisions will receive $2.2 billion in school operating funding, which is an 8.8 per cent increase. Harpauer says the budget provides almost $357 million in classroom supports, which she believes is a significant commitment to addressing classroom size and complexity.
Ongoing funding continues for 11 capital projects and three major renovations, and funding has been announced for planning nine new schools and two renovations. One of those new schools is a Saskatoon East joint-use facility for a public and Catholic high school. An elementary joint-use school is planned for Regina and a high school replacement in Pinehouse. In the pre-planning stage two more joint-use schools – a Regina high school and a Saskatoon elementary school in Brighton. South Corman Park School and Swift Current Comprehensive School will receive funding for renovations. Capital project funding for schools will increase by almost 42 per cent, at a total of $216 million. The post-secondary education sector will see a 3.7 per cent rise in funding at $793 million.
Harpauer says she is comfortable with the increased funding while there is a projected deficit, saying with the population growth, more funding is needed for things like health and education. It’s not something you can cut. She adds that Saskatchewan’s population is growing at its fastest pace in more than a century and is expected to reach 1.25 million people sometime later this year.
A record $7.6 billion goes to health care to expand patient care and increase access to services. The operating increase is 5.6 per cent. The funding includes $71.4 million to increase the capacity of the acute care system, including $30 million for the Saskatoon and Regina Capacity Pressures Action Plans. Funding is also going toward reducing the surgical waitlist with the goal of achieving the target three-month wait time ahead of schedule. An increase of $225.7 million is for physician services and programs, including recruitment training and retention.
Another $574 million is budgeted for mental health and addictions. This includes $6.2 million to add 150 more addictions treatment spaces to the 183 that have already been announced, with the goal to reach 500.
This year’s Agriculture budget is an increase of almost $24 million over last year. This includes more than $38 million for agricultural research and a freeze on the Crown land grazing rate at 2022 levels. As well, producers who have to reduce their stocking rates on Crown grazing land due to drought will be eligible for a lease discount.
Along with funding for the RCMP and 160 municipal police positions, $7 million will go towards the implementation and hiring of officers for the Saskatchewan Marshals Service which is expected to be operational in 2026.
