Pantalone Releases His Fiscal Plan
Posted October 14, 2010 2:40 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
With just over a week to go before Torontonians head to the polls, Joe Pantalone outlined his fiscal plan Thursday.
Pantalone, who continues to trail in the polls, promised a balanced budget in 2011 with the help of a 2.5 per cent property tax increase and $180 million in surplus funds from the city’s 2010 operating budget, in conjunction with land sales and efficiencies.
If the city follows his plan, it won’t have to ask for help from the province or cut services to stay in the black, he said.
The mayoral hopeful, who has 11 per cent support according to a recent Ipsos-Reid poll, has also promised to get rid of the vehicle registration tax.
Both Rob Ford and George Smitherman, who are virtually tied for support, have vowed to either freeze or cut taxes and cut costs at City Hall by phasing out staff through attrition.
Pantalone also promises to press the provincial government to cover 50 per cent of the TTC’s operating costs. Last week he also vowed to give neighbourhoods a greater say in the budget process.
