The Nova Scotia government says last year's deficit was $241.9 million, down from an earlier projection of $488.4 million.

Finance Minister Graham Steele said expenses were significantly restrained in 2009-10.

"We have benefitted from reduced expenses and increased revenues," he said in a release Thursday, "and are the first government in a decade to take control of unbudgeted spending."

Steele said the year-old NDP government spent only $24 million on unbudgeted expenses last year, compared to $408 million in 2008-09 under the Progressive Conservatives.

He said the province raked in an extra $76 million in personal and corporate income taxes.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/st ... z0v77sGyZi

That is good news. I'm not surprised