The Yukon Party government is asking the legislative assembly to approve approximately $105.6 million more in expenditures for the 2006-07 budget.

The supplementary budget was tabled in the legislature last Thursday.

It shows an increase of $29 million in operation and maintenance expenditures and $76.6 million in capital expenditures.

When approved by the majority house, the Fourth Appropriation Act will take the 2006-07 budget to a total of $899 million.

'We were led to believe the supplementary budget was going to be modest,' said acting NDP Leader Steve Cardiff.

But the supplementary budget now makes up a 'fairly substantial percent' of the overall allocations, he said.

The spending will need to be approved in the already jam-packed 12-day sitting of the legislature, during which MLAs must also debate the throne speech and income tax amendments.

The Department of Health and Social Services will receive the largest increase in operation and maintenance expenditures at $14.2 million.

The Public Service Commission is next in line with a $4.9-million increase, followed by Community Services at $3.9 million, Education at $2.9 million and Tourism and Culture at $1.1 million.

Meanwhile, the O&M expenditures for Energy, Mines and Resources fell by $2.1 million. The budget shows that the oil, gas and mineral resources in the territorial budget fell by $2.3 million. The taxes and general revenues in the department also fell by $4 million.

'All those conferences that the minister (Archie Lang) attends in Calgary and the premier (Dennis Fentie) speaks at in Calgary, and we're seeing a net reduction in revenues?' asked Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell.

The Executive Council Office received the largest increase in capital funding at $32 million, all of which is listed as northern housing under the land claims and implementation secretariat.

Highways and Public Works will be receiving $18.3 million more in capital money. Approximately $10.1 million of the money is for improvements on the Alaska Highway, with funding coming from the Shakwak highway improvement program, which involves Alaska state money, and the Canadian Strategic Infrastructure Fund.

Another $4 million is earmarked for improvements at the Whitehorse, Old Crow and Dawson City airports.

Community Services will receive an additional $12.7 million; $7.5 million is listed for the Canada Winter Games, $1.4 million for the Mayo Community Centre and $1.6 million for residential land development.

The Department of Education is receiving $4.8 million more in funding, of which $1.3 million will go toward the Tantalus School replacement in Carmacks.

Another $3 million will be given to the Department of Economic Development to go the Community Development Fund, film and sound incentive programs and economic infrastructure development.

Health and Social Services will also be receiving $2.6 million, of which $1.1 million will go toward the continuing work on the building of a multi-level care facility in Watson Lake. It takes this year's spending on the project to $3.4 million.

'What's down there is a foundation. That's got to be the world's most expensive concrete and parking lot,' said Mitchell. 'It's a real tribute to sole-source financing.'

The supplementary budget is far from being small, said Cardiff.

'It's a lot of money without much explanation,' he said. 'We need to know the details.'

The budget also shows $51.7 million more in transfers from Ottawa, with the bulk coming from the northern housing trust. But the money from the Northern Strategy and wait time reductions is showing as lapsed.

'The question is why? Were they not able to come up with any productive use for it? Are they saving it for next year?' asked Mitchell.

With budgeting now showing the government will have $84.5 million in net financial resources at year end, he added, he is disappointed to see no money for child care or to adjust the Yukon's social assistance rates.

'These were all big topics throughout the spring and in the (election) campaign. I would have expected that a government that has some $85 million available to it in net financial resources would have taken advantage of this budget to do something,' he said.

The budget document indicates that estimates are putting the surplus for the year $15.5 million higher than anticipated when the budget was released last March. It now is resting at $24.5 million. The accumulated surplus will be $512.8 million.

Mitchell was also disappointed to see no money for the previously promised school in Copper Ridge area or the completion of the Hamilton Boulevard extension to Robert Service Way (formerly the South Access Road).

'Our job (is) to scrutinize the expenditures of the government and make sure that they reflect, not just the priorities of the government but that they reflect the priorities of all Yukon people,' added Cardiff.

Fentie, who also serves as the Finance minister, said his government's fiscal management has provided more options to Yukoners than in the past.

'It also shows that we are continuing to invest in areas that are essential to Yukoners,' said Fentie. 'Our commitment here is to provide sound fiscal management, and we have tabled a fiscal framework that has balanced Yukon's books.'

Any new money that will be spent by the re-elected Yukon Party government will show up when the 2007-08 budget is tabled in the spring sitting next year, he added.

'Our approach to this as a government will be to maintain discipline and fiscal measures that will allow Yukon today to not spend Yukon's future of tomorrow.

'That means balanced budgets not spending more than we take in.'