Big spending on healthcare has increased New Brunswick’s deficit for this year.

The first fiscal update from the new Liberal government shows a $92 million deficit.

That’s a reversal from the previous government’s budgeted surplus of nearly $41 million last spring.

The Department of Health is over budget by $193 million due to higher operating costs, a significant portion being travel nurses.

In total, the province is over budget by $251 million.

Finance minister Rene Legacy says they’ll use this as a starting point to develop spending plans moving forward, and their goal is to balance the budget and deliver services New Brunswickers need.