Released on October 25, 2018
The Government of Saskatchewan managed expenses carefully in 2017-18, reducing spending on ministry travel by $2.1 million, or 5.6 per cent, compared to the previous year. The reduction is included in detailed information in Volume 2 of Public Accounts, released today.Total travel expense among ministries was $35.0 million last year, compared to $37.1 million in 2016-17. Ministers’ travel costs, were $265,000, a decrease of $46,000 or 14.8 per cent from the previous year. Ministers’ travel expense is down 73 per cent from 2006-07.
“Our Public Accounts show that our financial outlook is strengthening,” Finance Minister Donna Harpauer said. “We’re managing spending closely, while continuing to invest in priorities for Saskatchewan people.”
Communications costs across government have been managed closely and were $6.7 million in 2017-18, up $39,000 or 0.6 per cent from the previous year, still the second lowest communications expense total in the past 12 years and down $9.1 million or 58 per cent compared to 2006-07.
“A summary deficit of $303 million is in our books for 2017-18, which is a $393 million improvement over the deficit projected in the budget,” Harpauer said. “While there is still work to do, our government’s plan to return to balance by 2019-20 remains on track.”
Public Accounts Volume 2 provides details of ministry expense and revenue for the 2017-18 fiscal year. To view Volume 2, visit http://www.publications.gov.sk.ca/deplist.cfm?d=15&c=5826.
Volume 1 of the 2017-18 Public Accounts, which reports on the Summary Financial Statements, was released on July 19, 2018.-30-
For more information, contact:
Jeff Welke
Finance
Regina
Phone: 306-787-6046
Email: jeff.welke@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-536-1185