REGINA -- Saskatchewan's 2021-22 budget shows the province is still feeling the financial affects of the COVID-19 pandemic, posting a forecasted $2.6 billion deficit for the fiscal year. For the second year in a row, the budget focuses heavily on health, education and social services spending to ease assist with pandemic-related costs. Deficits are projected to continue over the next three years, at $1.7 billion in 2022-23, $1.2 billion in 2023-24 and $770 million in 2024-25. Based on these projections, Saskatchewan will see seven straight years of deficits through 2025, after posting deficits in each budget since 2018-19. Forecasts for both revenue and expenses are up from 2020-21. Total expense of $17.1 billion is expected this fiscal year, up $1 billion, or 6.3 per cent, from last year's budget. These expenses are also up $1.1 billion from the current 2020-21 forecast.