Executive committee reviews budget Thursday; next step council
Posted January 12, 2012 11:03 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO, Ont. – Two more meetings to go before the city’s 2012 budget is a reality.
The city’s executive committee will be reviewing the budget Thursday, with city council debating it next week.
“The people of Toronto have been very clear about what they want. First and foremost, they want us to stop the waste, to reduce city expenses, and to hold the line on taxes. And, yes, they want us to protect those who cannot protect themselves and to respect their cherished institutions,” Mayor Rob Ford said at the start of the meeting.
“For the first time in years, Toronto has a plan to eliminate one-time spending by next year. This year we will reduce our one-time draw on reserves from $346 million in 2011 down to about $80 million in 2012. In 2013 we should need no surpluses.”
On Monday, it passed through the city’s budget committee, with the library board hearing it must cut another $7 million by reducing hours or buying fewer books.
The committee also voted to use extra revenues to keep funding municipal swimming programs at two school pools.
