January 6 – Community Grants Update, User Fee Impact on Families
Posted on 06. Jan, 2012 by Beth.
Community Grants Update – Targeted Cuts Anticipated
On January 5, City staff held an information session for nonprofit community agencies that receive City funding from the Community Service Partnerships (CSP) program. CSP funding “facilitates access to services that improve social outcome for vulnerable, marginalized and high-risk communities.” It is one of the larger programs funded under the City’s Community Partnership and Investment Program (CPIP). The budget includes a proposed cut of 9.8% to CPIP.
If City Council votes in favour of the cut to CPIP, City staff communicated that CSP “cuts will not be done as across-the-board 10% reductions to all programs. Programs will be ranked and only those that rank high compared to other CSP requests will be recommended.” Staff communicated that some programs may be cut by less than 10%, while others could be cut by 10% or more, including some that may be completely eliminated. When asked about other community grants under CPIP, staff confirmed that a similar evaluation of individual projects would take place, rather than a straight 10% cut across the board. Read the Question and Answer information sheet provided by the City here
Mayor Takes 58 Student Nutrition Programs and Recreation Programs at 12 School-Based Community Centres Off the Chopping Block
The Mayor announced to the media today that he supports using $2.5 million from the $8.8 million in unanticipated property assessment growth (not part of the 2011 surplus) to cover the cost of the 58 student nutrition programs and recreation programs in 12 school-based community centres off the chopping block. A long list of proposed cuts would remain including cuts and fee increases for recreation. Recreation cuts and user fee increases include elimination of free child and youth registered programs at 21 Priority Centres, closure of some wading pools, outdoor pools and school pools, reduced hours at several indoor arenas, and increases to recreation user fees as high as 13%. After removing $2.5 million in cuts, the proposed cuts for the City budget would total $85.5 million.
Proposed User Fee Increases Cost Family of 4 an Extra $1,543 per Year
Recent analysis suggests a family of 4 could be looking at an increase of $1,543 per year to cover increases in user fees proposed in the budget. User fee increases from water bills, TTC, child care and recreation programs all add up to big expenses for families with children, according to new analysis. See the breakdown here
Read the media coverage here
Councillor Budget Forum Update
- Councillor McMahon, Ward 32 Beaches-East York, and TDSB Trustee Sheila Cary-Meagher are hosting a Support Our Ward 32 Pools event with a two-hour free recreational swim on Friday, January 13 from 4-6 p.m. at S.H. Armstrong Community Centre Pool (inside Duke of Connaught School), 56 Woodfield Avenue, NW of Coxwell and Queen, 416-392-0734
- Councillor Pasternak, Ward 10 York Centre: We have received an update from Councillor Pasternak. He is organizing a budget meeting for constituents who have let his office know that they would like to attend. We would suggest that you contact Councillor Pasternak to ensure that you are on the invitation list for his budget meeting. No details about date or time were available. Contact Councillor Pasternak at 416-392-1371 or councillor_pasternak@toronto.ca
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January 5 – Updates on Councillor Budget Forums, Budget Surplus and Call for Action
Posted on 05. Jan, 2012 by Beth.
Further updates on Councillor budget forums:
- Correction: Councillor Colle’s forum in Ward 15 Eglinton-Lawrence will start at 7 p.m. not 6:30 p.m. as posted previously. Full details: Wednesday, January 11 at 7 p.m. at Glen Long Community Centre, 35 Glen Long Avenue (west of Dufferin, north of Glencairn) (Winston Tinglin, Social Planning Toronto will be one of the guest speakers at this event)
- Councillor Carroll, Ward 33 Don Valley East: held her town hall on December 3
- Councillor Crisanti, Ward 1 Etobicoke North: Wednesday, January 11 at 7 p.m. at Albion Library, 1515 Albion Road. (For discussion: the City’s financial situation, the methodology for developing staff-recommended 2012 budget, as well as the Councillor’s views on the budget. If you can’t make it but would like to know more, contact Councillor Crisanti at 416-392-0205 or councillor_crisanti@toronto.ca)
Operating variance report for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011: I know it doesn’t sound exciting but it is. This City staff report documents the projected City surplus for 2011. At second quarter, it was $139 million. The new number is $174 less $20 million for staff buy-out packages. That means there’s more money on the table to work with. A full $96 million of the surplus comes from greater than anticipated revenues from the municipal land transfer tax – a revenue source the Mayor has vowed to eliminate.
Will Council stick the surplus into capital reserve funds (for TTC and other capital projects) and the tax rate stabilization fund (rainy day fund) or will they use some of that money to preserve City services and mitigate user fee increases? Budget Committee makes its recommendations on January 9, Executive Committee on January 12 and City Council makes the final call on January 17-19. Read the staff report here
Check out Commitment 2 Community’s call for action here
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January 4 – Update on Councillor Budget Forums
Posted on 04. Jan, 2012 by Beth.
January 4 City Budget Watch Update
We’ve heard back from some more Councillors about their plans/lack of plans to hold budget forums for constituents. Here’s the latest:
- Councillor Ford, Ward 2 Etobicoke North: no plans to hold a forum
- Councillor Holyday, Ward 3 Etobicoke Centre: no plans to hold a forum
- Councillor Milczyn, Ward 5 Etobicoke-Lakeshore: no plans to hold a forum
- Councillor Pasternak, Ward 10 York Centre: planning one for January 10, details forthcoming
- Councillor Perruzza, Ward 8 York West: Thursday, January 5 at 7 p.m. at York Woods Library, 1785 Finch Avenue West (east of Driftwood)
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January 2 – City Budget Year-End Update, Detailed List of Proposed Cuts, Councillor Budget Forums
Posted on 02. Jan, 2012 by Beth.
January 2, 2012 – City Budget Watch 2012 Update
Happy new year! Wishing you, our communities and our city all the best in 2012.
We’re going to have our work cut out for us on the City budget front.
- The 2012 City budget process resumes on January 9 (final meeting of the Budget Committee) and January 12 (Executive Committee meeting), and concludes January 17-19 (City Council meeting, final debate and vote on the 2012 operating and capital budgets).
- Catch up on where things are at with the 2012 City budget process – read SPT and Commitment 2 Community’s 2012 City Budget: Year-End Update here
- For the latest details on the proposed service cuts and user fee increases, check here
- See Commitment 2 Community’s December call for action here
Councillor Budget Forums
Several City Councillors are organizing local budget events for their constituents. These town halls are an important opportunity for residents to get informed, discuss the issues and let their Councillors know about their priorities for the ward and the city. Take part, share your views and find out where your Councillor stands on the issues.
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Best Wishes from Social Planning Toronto
Posted on 22. Dec, 2011 by Jeremy.
As the year draws to a close, the Staff and Board at Social Planning Toronto want to wish all of you a safe and happy holiday season. We hope that 2012 will be a good year for all of you, and that you will find that SPT’s mission of ‘improving the quality of life of all residents of Toronto’ is reflected in your own reality. We want to acknowledge the many friends and partners who have supported our work over the past year, and look forward to continuing to make progress together in the coming year.
Our offices will be closed from December 23, reopening January 2nd.
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