2009-10 Budget Overview

The province of Nova Scotia is tabling its eighth consecutive balanced budget in 2009–10, estimating a surplus of $4 million.

In 2008–09 revenues were estimated to be $8.466 billion, with expenses of $8.276 billion and a surplus of $189.7 million. Revenues are now forecasted to be $8.513 billion for 2008–09, due mainly to the Crown Share adjustment payment, with expenses of $8.491 billion and a surplus of $22.3 million.

Total revenues for 2009–10, including the net income from government business enterprises, are projected to be $8.537 billion, a marginal increase of $71 million over the 2008–09 estimates. Provincial-source ordinary revenues are estimated to be down $326.3 million, offset by a $292-million increase in federal-source ordinary revenues. Other revenue sources including fees and other charges, recoveries, sinking fund earnings, and government business enterprise net income are up $105.3 million.

Total expenses after consolidation adjustments for fiscal year 2009–10 are budgeted at $8.533 billion, up $256.67 million from levels estimated for 2008–09.

Educating for Good Jobs

• $1.3 billion will be invested in public education this year.
• $48.1 million will be invested in the Learning for Life program, to help students realize their potential.
• $4.1 million will be invested this year in the Black Learners Advisory Committee.
• A $14-million Student Information System will focus on measuring student achievement and school performance, with tangible benefits for the classroom; $2.4 million will be invested this year to begin putting the system in place.
• $180 million investment over three years freezes tuition rates and provides stable funding for universities.
• In partnership with the federal government, an investment of $114 million is going towards maintenance and upgrades to university and community college campuses.

Safer Homes, Safer Streets

• $3.5 million will bring the number of additional police officers to 183.
• $6 million over three years will be used to construct and design a new forensic science facility.
• $500,000 will be invested for crime prevention in communities around the province.
• $18 million over two years will go toward the construction of a new correctional facility in Springhill.
• $4.4 million will be invested in corrections for training, for additional staff, and for equipment to improve safety and security in correctional facilities.

Preventing Poverty, Promoting Prosperity

• As part of the Poverty Reduction Strategy, $155 million will go towards improving the standard of living for low-income Nova Scotians. This builds on the initiatives put in place over the past three years, totalling almost $200 million.
• $2.5 million will expand the Nova Scotia Child Benefit so more families can qualify and take advantage of the children's low-income Pharmacare program.
• $133 million will be invested over two years to create homes for seniors and persons with disabilities and to renovate and retrofit the social housing portfolio.
• More than 280,000 Nova Scotians will benefit from the Your Energy Rebate Program.
• Through the Heating Assistance Rebate Program, individuals with an income of $27,000 or below, and families with an income of $42,000 or below, will qualify for a rebate of up to $200.

Toward a Greener Future

• Through the ecoNova Scotia fund, $17 million will be spent on clean air and climate change projects throughout the province in the coming year. An additional $500,000 will help to create the climate change adaptation fund.
• In order to reach the goal of securing 12 per cent of protected lands by 2020, the province will offer to purchase 21,000 acres (8,500 hectares) of land in western Nova Scotia.
• $200,000 will be invested in our coastal management strategy to promote a healthy environment and a sustainable coast.
• $200,000 will help encourage the redevelopment of contaminated land and to further reduce our waste disposal rates.

Shorter Wait Times

• A total investment of $3.4 billion will be made in the health-care system this year.
• $22 million will go towards equipment, and an additional $10 million will go towards emergency repair and renewal.
• $27 million will be invested in IT projects that will reduce wait times and improve the delivery of health care.
• $87 million will go towards upgrading hospitals in the province; an additional $20 million has been invested in a new emergency room for the QEII that will be better designed to meet the anticipated 70,000 annual visits, with upgraded equipment, and more beds and staff.
• $5.9 million will make health information more accessible, giving Nova Scotians access to a registered nurse 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Stimulating the Economy

• More than $1 million will be invested in the tourism sector through the national Community Development Trust Fund to develop niche products and marketing.
• $2.3 million over three years will support farmers markets and direct marketing for local trade and food system development.
• In the past year, Nova Scotia Business Inc. has generated more than $22 million of investment in communities around the province with forecasted new job creation and retention of about 1,400.

Building for Growth

• Nova Scotia's Building for Growth stimulus plan will see $1.9 billion invested in provincially owned infrastructure projects over the next three years.
• $354-million investment to improve highways
• An estimated $40 million will be spent on tourism-related projects through the provincial stimulus plan.
• Over $307 million will be invested to build eight new schools and upgrade another 41.
• $50 million will go towards making schools, hospitals, and provincial buildings greener.
• Under the federal Building Canada Fund, $86 million will be invested in Atlantic Gateway projects to ensure that we take maximum advantage of this emerging trade opportunity.
• An additional $20-million investment in municipalities over two years will help them match federal funds for capital grants.
• $14.4 million will be spent to upgrade Nova Scotia's sailing ambassador, the Bluenose II, in partnership with the federal government.

NOTE: For further 2009-10 budget information, see the Department of Finance website at www.gov.ns.ca/finance .