January 10 – Sign Petition to Save Community Services, Executive Committee Takes $6 Million in Cuts Off the Table, Just Under $80 Million in Cuts Remain

Posted on 12. Jan, 2012 by Beth in City Budget Watch 2012, SPT News

Sign Petition to Save Community Services

After public calls in support of the arts, the Executive Committee took $1.9 million in cuts to community grants for arts programs off the table, along with a handful of cuts outlined below.  However cuts to community grants for community services remain. Please read the Commitment 2 Community message below and take one moment right now to sign the petition to safeguard community services delivered through the CPIP community grants program!

A message from Commitment 2 Community:

Please  take action on the 2012 City Budget now -visit  http://togethertoronto.ca/campaigns/community-services to sign a petition urging your city councillor not to cut funding to the Community Partnership and Investment Program (CPIP).  Signing this petition is quick, easy and effective. Your message will go to directly to your city councillor and you can customize it with your own comments or concerns. After you have signed, be sure to share the link widely over email, blogs, Facebook or Twitter.

Take action now because a 9.8% cut to CPIP is still being considered and in just over a week, City Council’s decisions about the budget will be final. All 44 city councillors and the mayor will vote on the 2012 budget from January 17-19th.

Take action now because CPIP builds healthy, safe and vibrant neighbourhoods across Toronto. It supports programs for women, children, youth, seniors, immigrants and residents of the city who are homeless, low income, racialized, LGBTQ, disabled and/or live with chronic illness. Learn more about what’s at stake with a cut to CPIP  here, and read United Way Toronto‘s recent letter to City Council supporting continued funding.

Take action now because CPIP is a smart investment in our city. Every $1 the city invests in CPIP leverages $10 from other levels of government, foundations, business and individuals – over $470 million in total. The immense value of CPIP was recognized yesterday by the Toronto Board of Trade; it recommended that City Council ”Restore $4.7-million in proposed cuts to the widely supported Community Partnership and Investment Program and  look closely at the widespread benefits these programs have beyond their dollar value in the operating budget.” Read their full submission to council here.

Any cut to CPIP will hurt residents and communities in every ward - let’s take this last chance to raise our concerns. Before City Councillors vote on the budget, we have to be sure that they hear from everyone who is worried about budget cuts to community services and programs, whether online, by phone or in person. If you want to call or email your councillor about the budget,  please visit this link for contact info & helpful tips.

Please ensure the message about maintaining CPIP funding is loud and clear to councillors by signing the petition and sharing it with all your contacts. Together, our commitment to community can inspire councillors to support and strengthen the city-wide network of services fostered by CPIP.

Executive Committee Quickly Dispenses with 2012 City Budget, Takes $6 Million in Cuts Off the Table, Just Under $80 Million in Cuts Remain

Executive Committee met today to make its recommendations for the 2012 City operating and capital budgets.  The committee quickly dispensed with these budgets, passing a number of motions to take $6 million in cuts off the table.  Here’s a summary of the services removed from the cuts list:

• $1.9 million in cuts to arts and culture grants provided through the Community Partnership and Investment Program (cuts to community grants for community services remain)
• the Hardship Fund be funded until July 2012; the City negotiate with the Province to take on the funding of the program; “In the event that additional provincial funding is not secured, any additional funding needed for the balance of the year be funded from the Toronto Employment and Social Services net budget.” (leaving questions about where that money comes from within the TESS budget)
• $927,900 in cuts to the sidewalk snow clearing program

• The Toronto Library Board cut its budget by 5.9% but refused to go for the full 10% cut; the Budget Committee wanted it to cut its budget by the full 10% and passed a motion that it cut another $6.974 million to meet the 10% target; the Executive Committee recommended that $3.084 million from unanticipated assessment growth go toward the library budget and that the board be required to cut another $3.89 million (instead of $6.974 million) but keep the library operating hours as is (that leaves the collections budget for new materials and programs such as literacy for cutting); if Council votes in favour of this motion, the board will consider Council’s motion; I don’t know what happens if the board refuses to make the cut

In total, the Executive Committee recommended that just under $6 million from unanticipated assessment growth be used to take these cuts off the table.  On Monday, Budget Committee had recommended that about $2.8 million be used from this fund.  Between Budget Committee and Executive Committee, they have allocated all $8.8 million from this fund to mitigate service reductions.

A motion was passed recommending that 100% of the 2011 surplus, currently projected at $154 million, be put into the capital financing reserve to cover TTC capital needs.  The motion, moved by Councillor Minnan-Wong, recommended that all surpluses be applied to the this account until the $700 million target in new financing for TTC capital projects is achieved.

There was also a motion passed about ensuring that residents at the three homeless shelters receive appropriate accommodation such as long-term care before the shelters are closed.  This motion, moved  by Councillor Mammoliti, also requested that the City Manager report back by April on a strategy to use federal and provincial housing money for a transitional housing allowance.  Some media reported that three long-term care homes were saved which is not the case (and no homes were on the chopping block (yet) rather closure of visitor cafeterias in long-term care homes are slated for closure and were not saved).  City staff reported earlier in the process that residents of the three shelters would be found appropriate accommodation.  Today’s motion has no substantive impact on the homeless shelter closures.  The staff recommended budget recommended closure of three shelters, as has the Budget Committee and now the Executive Committee.

What’s Left on the Chopping Block?  Almost $80 Million in Service Cuts Plus Recreation User Fee and TTC Fare Increases

Executive Committee has recommended almost $80 million in service cuts plus increases to recreation user fees and the TTC fare hike.  Proposed service cuts and user fee increases are slated for community services funded through the CPIP community grants program, libraries, priority centres, pools, arenas, child care, long-term care homes, homeless shelters, affordable housing development, housing and homeless support services, TTC bus and streetcar routes, preserving a healthy tree canopy, climate change and sustainable energy programs, longer waits for firefighters and paramedics, elimination of good jobs.

Councillors critical  of the budget, while in attendance, did not ask any questions of staff, make any statements or request that any motions be moved.  It appears many are holding their motions and debate for next week’s City Council meeting on January 17-19 when the final vote on the 2012 City operating and capital budgets will take place.

Final decisions on the budget:  City Council meets on January 17-19 to make its final decisions on the 2012 City operating and capital budgets.  Labour Council is organizing a rally to save City services and good jobs on January 17 at 5:30 p.m. in front of City Hall.