Expense

Overview

Budget 2023 secures Alberta's future by continuing to prioritize fiscal responsibility and living within our means. A new fiscal framework, including balanced budget legislation, helps government make spending decisions that support long-term sustainability of the government programs and services that are important to Albertans.

The government’s latest budget update is now available online. Read the 2023-24 Mid-year Fiscal Update and Economic Statement (PDF, 1 MB).

Resources

Budget 2023 Expense
2023-24 Mid-year Fiscal Update and Economic Statement (PDF, 1.5 MB)

2023-24 mid-year update

Total expense is forecast at $68.8 billion in 2023-24, $4.3 billion more than 2022-23 and $481 million more than estimated in Budget 2023. About $1.4 billion in expense increases are forecast as a preliminary allocation from the $1.5 billion budgeted contingency, leaving $123 million unallocated.

Table 1. Expense summary (millions of dollars)

Source: Treasury Board and Finance
Expense items	22-23 Actual	23-24 Budget	23-24 Forecast	Change from Budget	2024-25 Target	2025-26 Target
Operating expense:
- Health	23,438	24,533	24,834	301	25,683	26.300
- Kindergarten to Grade 12	8,329	8,836	8,866	30	9,036	9,162
- Post-secondary	5,716	5,779	5,827	48	5,919	6,052
- Seniors, Community and Social Services	4,816	5,252	5,183	(69)	5,159	5,335
- Other ministries / Legislative Assembly	12,438	12,638	12,647	8	12,784	12,724
Operating expense	54,737	57,038	57,357	318	58,581	59,573
Capital grants	1,525	2,821	2,841	20	3,563	3,508
Amortization / inventory consumption / loss on disposals	4,090	4,418	4,418	-	4,481	4,531
- Debt servicing	2,829	2,848	3,157	309	3,253	3,398
- Pension provisions	(21)	(322)	(341)	(19)	(358)	(370)
Disaster and emergency assistance	1,319	-	1,229	1,229
Contingency	-	1,500	123	1377
Total expense	64,479	68,303	68,784	481	71,020	72,140