The Guthrie Theater reported a small surplus in fiscal 2014-15, on its largest annual budget ever.

One of the largest nonprofit theaters in the nation, the Guthrie spent $29 million in the past year — during which former artistic director Joe Dowling retired and Joseph Haj took over. The surplus was $24,171.

The budget was up $3.2 million, or 12 percent, from the previous year, as earned income rose 8 percent and contributed income went up by a very significant 23 percent.

"The fact that we are sound [financially] is a credit to Joe [Dowling], to our board, our staff, to nearly 20,000 season ticket-holders and the ­thousands of donors who continue to demonstrate their generosity," Haj said in a prepared statement.

Attendance in Dowling's final season rose 6 percent, to 378,538. That contributed to an 11 percent increase in revenue from performances.

Dowling's three final productions — "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "The Crucible" and "Juno and the Paycock" — all were received well critically and at the box office.

At the annual meeting, Y. Marc Belton, a retired General Mills executive who founded Wisefellows Consulting, was named chairman, succeeding Lee Skold.