Premier says Sask. budget to be expected June 1

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall addressed the status of the long-awaited upcoming provincial budget in Regina Friday.

"Some of the work had been done last year," Wall said, adding that the finalization stage has yet to be reached.

He said the provincial budget is expected to be released on June 1.

"We're going to make some difficult decisions. We've got a forecast to come in with a smaller deficit than we're currently in this year," said the premier.

According to Wall, this means no tax increase for the province's residents.

Late last year, the premier confirmed he would be running a deficit, instead of increasing taxes, to deal with what he calls "serious revenue shortfalls." 

In February, the province put a number on the projected deficit for the 2016-17 fiscal year — $259 million.

At the same time, the finance minister announced the deficit for the current fiscal year would jump $165 million from mid year projections to a $427-million.

On Friday, the premier said he and his government will have to find hundreds of millions of dollars in savings within the upcoming budget to support healthcare, education and social services.

"Some ministries are going to come in lower than last budget — not the big three, but some will," said Wall. 

"We'll also be able to lay out how we're going to get back to balance in '17-'18."