Saskatchewan finished the 2023-24 fiscal year with a $182-million operating surplus. The province’s financial status was highlighted in Thursday’s release of Volume 1 of the 2023-24 Public Accounts.

In a news release, Saskatchewan Finance Minister Donna Harpauer said there was a substantial increase in expenses throughout the year including most notabily in the Agriculture budgetdue to continued drought conditions in some areas of the province which resulted in higher crop insurance payouts. The government says a higher demand for health services was also a factor.

The government had initially forecast a $1-billion surplus, Harpauer also said that noncash adjustments related to inflation and pensions also increased expenses however she said that the province was able to finish the year in a surplus position due to the increased growth in a wide range of sector contributing to the strength of the economy.