December 9 – Budget Committee Begins its Wrap-up
Posted on 09. Dec, 2011 by Beth.
Budget Committee Begins its Wrap-up
Watch today’s Budget Committee meeting here
After two days of public hearings, the Budget Committee began its wrap-up process today. During the wrap-up sessions, the committee votes to receive briefing notes (reports by staff on various aspects of the budget that have been requested by Councillors and supported by the Budget Committee throughout the process), can request further briefing notes (if the Budget Committee agrees), can ask clarifying questions to staff about the briefing notes, and votes to make changes to the draft operating and capital budgets.
Motions tabled: Budget Committee votes on these motions on December 13 (these are proposed changes to the draft operating and capital budgets ):
- Introduce a $2 fee for outdoor drop-in swim programs for all ages
- Introduce a $2 fee for admission to the Riverdale Farm for every visitor (Councillor Del Grande is moving this one; Councillor Berardinetti is moving another motion to defer this motion until July 2012 – don’t consider the fee introduction now)
- Remove Thistletown Community Centre from the list of locations from which recreation programs would be eliminated (Councillor Crisanti moved this one; Thistletown is in his ward – Ward 1 North Etobicoke; he has requested a briefing note to see if it is feasible to take the money from the Waterfront Secretariat operating budget or by increasing ice rink permit fees to cover the cost)
- Don’t cut recreation programs from any of the proposed locations (Councillor Mihevc requested this motion in response to Councillor Crisanti’s motion. As a courtesy, Councillor Milczyn agreed to move his motion – which doesn’t indicate whether he’ll support the motion or not.)
- That the 2012 operating budget for the Toronto Police Service (TPS) be reduced by $4.2913 million net (Councillor Milczyn is moving this one; he wants them to make the cut from the civilian workforce or non-salary costs, resulting in a flatlined net budget, but isn’t allowed to direct the TPS as to how they make the cut)
- That the Welcome Policy implement a subsidy dollar cap per family to ensure that more families are served under the policy (Councillor Crisanti clarified that he wants a subsidy cap per person not per family. The staff recommendation previously accepted was based on family not individual. )
- Remove Sir Wilfrid Laurier pool from list of pools where City swim programs will be eliminated and take the money out of the Toronto Environment Office to cover the cost (requested by Councillor Ainslie, and moved by Councillor Milczyn)
- To prioritize the building of new splash pads in place of the five wading pools proposed for closure (if City Council decides to shutdown those wading pools)
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December 8 – Budget Committee Concludes Two Intense Days of Public Hearings
Posted on 08. Dec, 2011 by Beth.
Budget Committee Concludes Two Intense Days of Public Hearings
Watch all the action from day 2 of the Budget Committee’s public hearings here
Public hearings concluded this evening with residents delivering many thoughtful, passionate, odd and inspiring, and at times angry deputations on the 2012 City budget. Will any of this advice factor into the Budget Committee recommendations or final verdict from City Councillors in January? We’ll wait and see.
Next Up: Budget Committee wrap up begins tomorrow, Friday, December 9 at 9:30 a.m. at City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, Committee Room 1. The committee begins to make its decisions about the staff recommended operating and capital budgets, carrying on next week on December 13, with a final wrap up day on January 9. The Budget Committee’s recommendations go to Executive Committee for consideration on January 12, and then it’s all up to City Council where final decisions will be made on January 17-19.
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Service cuts affect low-income areas most (The Star)
Posted on 08. Dec, 2011 by Jeremy.
Anita Li
Staff Reporter, The Toronto Star
A map created by Social Planning Toronto reveals that the proposed cuts and closures in the city’s 2012 budget are “disproportionately” located in low-income neighbourhoods.
Forty-two of the 75 location-specific cuts — or 56 per cent — are in impoverished areas, according to the organization.
“(There’s) really great concern about creating a city that is a less equitable city, a less just city, a less compassionate city,” said senior researcher Beth Wilson. “I don’t think anyone voted for that.”
Wilson compiled statistics for the map using information from city budget documents and economic data from its most recent 2006 report on low income. The location-specific cuts do not represent all the proposed service cuts.
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December 7 – Budget Committee Finishes Day 1 of 2 Public Hearings
Posted on 07. Dec, 2011 by Beth.
Budget Committee Finishes Day 1 of 2 Public Hearings
Short update after a long day…
Watch all of the action from today’s Budget Committee’s public hearings here
It was a full house at the first day of public hearings on the City’s 2012 budget. Across communities, neighbourhoods and issue areas, residents and community groups were united in sending a strong message to the Budget Committee and City Council: these cuts will hurt communities; this isn’t our vision for Toronto; other choices are possible. The committee heard deputants up to #154 on the deputation list which includes 348 speakers in total. The second and final day of public hearings starts on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. at City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, Committee Room 1, concluding at 9:30 p.m. If the committee runs out of time before it gets to the end of the list, remaining deputants will be invited to provide written comments with no opportunity to speak. Them’s the rules.
Can’t make it? Watch live or check out the video here
Toronto Star picks up Social Planning Toronto’s Mapping the Cuts map. Read the story here. We will be updating the map as new information about location-specific cuts becomes available. Watch for updates in the City Budget Watch 2012 bulletin.
The Star has also published a list of student nutrition programs at risk in the 2012 City budget.
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Toronto budget meeting begins with pleas to scrap land transfer tax, save men’s shelter (Globe & Mail)
Posted on 07. Dec, 2011 by Jeremy.
Pool closings, transit cuts, reduced library and arena hours – Toronto residents have a chance to have their three-minute say on the city’s money-saving plans over the next two days at city hall.
A total of 348 residents have signed up to speak over the course of the two-day budget meeting, many from organizations such as daycare centres, school nutrition programs, arts groups and non-profits that will be directly affected by the proposed reductions to funding.
The proposed budget – released last week – aims to reduce the city’s total spending for the first time since amalgamation and would require major layoffs of up to 1,190 city workers and a 10-per-cent reduction in most departments. It also recommends a 2.5-per-cent increase in residential taxes.
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