Council passes motion to save $15M in cuts, 2012 budget approved

A rookie councillor has derailed some of Mayor Rob Ford’s extensive budget cut plans.

Council voted 23-21 in favour of Josh Colle’s motion that calls for a reversal of some of the most controversial cuts suggested by the mayor. 

Colle proposed that the city redirect $15 million of surplus money to stave off cuts to recreation programs, homeless shelters and subsidized child care. It will also ensure seniors and youth don’t have to pay user fees in priority areas.

Five pools would also be saved, as well as operating hours at some city ice rinks.

“I think we passed the budget that demonstrated the consensus of a lot of councilors and a lot of Torontonians and you saw that in the end,” Colle said. “Sometimes budgets are messy, but I think we got to the right point. We’re being fiscally responsible like the mayor has committed to, but at the same time we’re protecting some of those services people really spoke out about.”

The amended 2012 budget was approved Tuesday, 39-5. It was expected to take up to three days but councillors raced through it in one day.

“Council’s approval of the budget reflects what we were elected to do: fix the state of city finances and hold the line on property taxes, hold the line on the debt and ensure that we make every tax dollar count by providing the best services we can,” Ford said.

Despite his gracious words, the passing of Colle’s motion marked a huge blow for Ford, who kicked off debate on the 2012 operating budget Tuesday by reminding city council that the majority of Torontonians voted for politicians who promised to get the city’s “fiscal house in order.”

“He frankly lost the day quite miserably,” said Coun. Joe Mihevc

“The people of Toronto won,” said Coun. Adam Vaughan. “They spoke up.”

“We have grown spending so far and so fast we simply cannot sustain it anymore. Average people in Toronto understand this,” Ford said. “That’s what they voted for. The voters during the 2010 election, to be exact, 83 per cent of the residents, voted for mayoral candidates that promised to get Toronto’s fiscal house in order.”

Colle’s motion was slammed by Coun. Giorgio Mammoliti and Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday.

Holyday accused Colle of making a deal with other councillors. Mammoliti called Colle’s motion, “sneaky.”

“We have a good budget in front of us. A lot of people worked a lot on this budget and I believe for any motions to come up now in council for the first time is inappropriate,” Mammoliti said.

At the start of Tuesday’s meeting, council approved, without debate, the mayor’s 2.5 per cent property tax increase. That translates to an increase of $60 for the average residential household assessed at $447,090 in 2012 with the final 2012 municipal taxes on such a home being $2,459.89, the city said in a release.

Looking ahead, the city is anticipating an operating budget shortfall of $446 million in 2013, which is significantly less than this year’s $774 million shortfall, and a shortfall of $328 million in 2014, the city’s chief financial officer Cam Weldon said.

He said the city will need to find $180 million in “efficiency savings” or other revenue offsets to balance the 2013 budget and another $80 million in 2014.

The CFO said the city needs a 10-year capital plan of $14.8 billion, of which 68 per cent will be dedicated to transit and transportation and five per cent will go to parks, forestry and recreation.

While council began voting on the day’s numerous motions, about 100 protesters descended on Toronto City Hall. Some clashed with police.

CityNews has confirmed four people have been arrested.

Four men in their 20s have been charged with obstructing a peace officer and unlawful assembly.

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