REGINA – Highlights of the Saskatchewan budget tabled Wednesday:
— A balanced budget with $11.61 billion in revenue and $11.54 billion in spending, leaving a surplus of $64.8 million.
— Overall budget spending increased by 3.1 per cent.
— Tobacco tax increase of four cents per cigarette to 25 cents a cigarette to bring in $47.5 million.
— An increase of about three per cent on alcohol to collect an additional $10 million.
— Universities and regional colleges get a 2.1 per cent operating increase.
— Plans to update uranium royalties to encourage investment.
— Promised cut in corporate income tax rate to 10 per cent from 12 per cent by 2015 deferred.
— $1.5-million increase for 300 additional apprenticeship training spots.
— $29 million to ease health-care pressures from population growth.
