City budget faces final hurdle this week
Posted January 16, 2012 12:56 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Toronto councillors will debate and vote on the 2012 capital spending and operating budgets during a three-day meeting beginning Tuesday, after months of heated debate at city hall.
The 44 councillors will consider a proposed operating budget of $9.4 billion that includes a 2.5 per cent property tax increase for homeowners and $80 million in potential service cuts, after months of committee meetings, public hearings and protests.
Councillors, who will also consider a 10-year capital plan of $12.8 billion, will be asked to use the 2011 budget surplus of $154 million for TTC projects.
The mayor’s inner circle rejected some of the more controversial cuts totalling about $8 million at a meeting last Thursday, and they include:
• No reductions to library hours, but the Toronto Public Library Board will still be required to cut $3.89 million in addition to the 5.9 per cent it has already made to its budget.
• Downsview Dells, Birchmount Residence and Bellwoods House will not be closed until each of the current residents has been re-located in appropriate housing.
• The city will continue to fund $1.9 million for Arts and Culture Grants.
• $927,000 in cuts to local sidewalk snow clearing program have been cancelled.
• The Hardship Fund will continue.
Earlier this month, the mayor said the city has been able to find $2.5 million to maintain the student nutrition program and to keep city programming running at 12 of 29 school-based community centres — programs previously slated to end as part of proposed operating budget cuts.
But other proposed service cuts along with increased user fees remain on the table, and they include:
• The closure of five pools.
• The closure of three city child care centres: Bellevue, Greenholme and St. Mark’s.
• Annual service cuts of 800 subsidized child care spaces may start this year if the city doesn’t get additional provincial funding.
• 9.8 per cent reduction to community grants, which support programs for HIV/AIDS services, as well as programs for women, youths, seniors, immigrants and the homeless.
• User fees for children and youths in priority areas.
• User fees for recreational programs.
• User fee of $2 for indoor and outdoor city pools.
To protest the proposed cuts, a rally is planned for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at city hall.
It is part of a series of so-called rolling actions by Toronto Stop the Cuts Network and its allies who argue that the mayor should use the $154 million surplus to expand city services.
The mayor will need 23 votes for the budget to pass.
