Alberta budget shows $755M surplus

The final numbers are in for the last fiscal year inAlberta, and they show the province has turned the corner followingthe global economic meltdown of 2008.

Alberta recorded a $755-million surplus in the 2013-14 fiscalyear the first such surplus in six years.

The province brought in more than $45 billion in revenue.

That's 17 per cent more than expected, credited mainly to higherthan forecast energy and tax revenues.When the budget was released in the spring of 2013, the government was anticipating a $2 billiondeficit.

Speaking Monday, Alberta's Minister of Finance Doug Hornercredited theresults to higher than expected energy revenues and income from the Heritage Fund.

Total spending was almost $42 billion, and the province now hasin $8.7 billion in debt for capital projects.

The rainy day contingency account sits at $4.7 billion, but isforecast to soon increase to $6 billion.