The Nova Scotia government is forecasting a deficit of $97.6 million for 2015-2016, which would cut the budget

shortfall by more than half.

The government last projected a deficit for the 2014-2015 fiscal year at almost $221 million.

A look at some of the people who won and lost in this year's budget:

Winners

Public schools: $20 million additional investment for math strategy, literacy strategy, class size cap

Universities: $3.2 million for one per cent increase in university operating grants

Students: $24.8 million to maintain Nova Scotia Student Bursary

Seniors: $1.5 million in increased funding for Senior Citizens Assistance Program

Addiction and mental health programs: $1 million in additional funding

Home-care services: $3.8 million in additional funding

Caregivers: $1.8 million additional funding to expand Caregiver Benefit program

Those waiting for surgery: $2 million to try to reduce wait times for orthopedic surgeries

Children: Vaccinations for meningococcal meningitis expanded

Artists: $6 million Creative Economy Fund promised for 2016 for members of film, animation, music/sound recording and publishing industries

Services for people with disabilities: $4.5 million funding increase

Sexual assault services: $700,000 to expand the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program to two more areas in the province

Losers