EDMONTON -- The Alberta government tabled its 2016-17 budget Thursday. Here are some of the highlights:
-- Total revenue is pegged at $41.4 billion against $51.1 billion in spending. The government is adding a $700-million buffer if oil prices fall into the US$30 barrel range, which would bring the deficit to $10.4 billion.
-- Benchmark West Texas Intermediate oil expected to average US$42 a barrel and the dollar is forecast at US73.5 cents.
-- The province is amalgamating or dissolving 26 agencies, boards and commissions to save $33 million over three years.
-- Salaries and supplies in government departments to be cut by two per cent to save $121 million.
-- A carbon tax to begin Jan. 1 will cost a household earning more than $100,000 a year about $500 annually by 2018 as prices go up for gasoline and home heating. There are no other new or increased taxes.
-- Two new tax credits worth $250 million to encourage investment in small- and medium-sized businesses and to give business leaders incentives to make capital investments.
-- The small-business tax to be cut to two per cent from three.
-- Province expects all of its capital spending and employment incentive efforts will create about 100,000 jobs over the next three years.
