The Saskatchewan government's tendency to adjust spending mid-year renders the budget process irrelevant, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation says.

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Finance Minister Jim Reiter needs to deliver a balanced budget on March 19. Not balanced some time in the future, balanced on March 19.

On budget day in 2024, the government promised a $1-billion surplus. That surplus ended up shrinking to $182 million, according to the latest public accounts. That’s because while government revenue increased by 6.7 per cent during the year, the government also decided to spend 11.5 per cent more.

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If the government had only spent what it said it would on budget day, the surplus would have been $2.3 billion. That’s money that could have been used to pay back debt or provide tax relief, but provincial politicians couldn’t resist the impulse to spend.

This year is the same sad story for taxpayers. So far, government revenue is up $275 million compared to the 2024 budget, but the government is also spending $746 million more. That’s like winning the lottery and still maxing out your credit card.

If the government had held the line on spending this year, it would be looking at a $2-million deficit instead of the