EDMONTON – The Alberta government released a budget Thursday that banks on the province’s economy rebounding from recent hard times. Here are some of the highlights:
— Revenue is forecast to hit $45 billion.
— The deficit is pegged at $10.3 billion.
— Tax revenue is forecast at $21.8 billion, up almost 6 per cent from year prior.
— Bitumen royalties are estimated at $2.5 billion while conventional oil royalties are pegged at $476 million.
— Operational spending is growing by 2.2 per cent.
— There is $4.5 billion earmarked over the next four years for infrastructure, including $100 million in new money to help First Nations get access to clean water.
— A new hospital in Edmonton at a cost of $400 million.
— A new continuing care centre in Calgary at a cost of $131 million.
— Red Deer is getting a new court house at a cost of $97 million.
— There is $14.5 million in the budget to hire more Crown prosecutors and support staff.
— Education funding hits $8.2 billion with money for 10 new schools and 16 more replacements and modernizations
— There is $566 million over the next three years for a variety of programs to help lower energy bills, such as low-energy light bulbs.
