For the first time in more than a decade, the City is conducting resident engagement and pre-budget consultations as a lead up to the 2024 Toronto City Budget. Throughout the month of November, Toronto residents are encouraged to share their ideas about the next budget through various channels such as in-person and virtual consultations as well as through an online survey and tool. We haven't seen this level of engagement from the City in some time and we take it as a hopeful sign of more authentic engagement with the community.
About the Budget
Through the budget process, Toronto City Council makes important decisions about critical programs, services, and infrastructure — what it’s going to fund (adequately or not), if it’s going to cut programs or services, if it’s going to freeze budgets (given rising program costs, a budget freeze is, in effect, a service cut), and how it’s going to pay for these vital programs. These decisions are arguably the most important that Council makes all year — they tell us whether Council is going to move the city forward and address critical issues in our communities, or not. Budget decisions reveal the priorities of City Council and shape the quality of life of residents and communities across the city throughout the year.
The tax-supported budget includes operating budgets (to pay for the operation of programs and services) and capital budgets (to pay for infrastructure, such as purchasing buses or streetcars, or building a new library or community centre). The tax-supported budget includes all City service areas except for the Toronto Parking Authority (Green P parking), Toronto Water, and solid waste management (garbage and recycling), which are included in the rate-supported budget. Tax-supported budgets cover everything else — housing and homeless services, child care, public transit, recreation, libraries, Toronto police, emergency services, community services provided by nonprofits, and much more).
The tax-supported budget is funded through property taxes, federal and provincial funding, TTC fares, user fees and fines, the Municipal Land Transfer Tax, and other sources. In contrast, rate-supported services are paid for through user fees, including revenues from water and garbage fees and parking fees at Green P lots.
Key Budget Dates
You can watch all of these meetings live, or check out video recordings after the meetings, on Council’s YouTube channel. All meetings start at 9:30 a.m.
Budget Dates
- November 1 to 30: Budget Consultations. Toronto residents are encouraged to engage in Budget Consultations by using this online tool (November 30 is the final day) and/or register for one of the online or in-person meetings taking place between November 20 and November 30.
- January 10: Budget Committee Launch.
- January 16 to 18: Budget Committee Review.
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January 22 and 23: Budget Committee Public Presentation. Budget Committee meetings will offer a chance for Public Hearings/Deputations (opportunities for people to share their ideas, perspectives, have their say with members of the Budget Committee). If you would like to speak to the Budget Committee on January 22 or 23, please register by 4:30 p.m. on January 19. Register by contacting [email protected] or call 416-392-4666. See below for more information on the dates, times, and locations of Budget Committee Meetings.
- January 26: Budget Committee Wrap Up. The Budget Committee will have its final wrap-up meeting and make a recommendation to the Mayor, rather than to the Executive Committee or City Council.
- February 1: Mayor's Proposed Budget Release. By this date the Mayor is required to propose a budget to members of Council and the City Clerk. No meeting is required for this to happen.
- February 14: City Council (Special). Council’s final vote on the Budget.
Learn More & Have Your Say: Telephone Town Halls and Public Hearings/Deputations (Dates and Times)
Telephone Town Halls
Join Mayor Olivia Chow and Budget Committee Chair Councillor Shelley Carroll at a telephone town hall. Share your feedback on the 2024 City budget. To participate, call 1-833-490-0778 toll-free at the time of the telephone town hall:
Date: January 16, 2024
Time: 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Date: January 17, 2024
Time: 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Date: January 18, 2024
Time: 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Budget Committee Public Hearings/Deputations
Budget Committee public hearings/deputations offer a chance for community members to share their ideas, perspectives and concerns with members of the Budget Committee about the 2024 City budget. You can participate in person or online. Register to depute (make a short presentation) by contacting [email protected] or call 416-392-4666. Please let them know which location, date, and time slot (morning, afternoon, evening) you would prefer.
City Hall, 100 Queen Street West
Date: January 22, 2024
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Location: City Hall, Committee Room 1 and by video conference
Date: January 22, 2024
Time: 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location: City Hall, Committee Room 1 and by video conference
Date: January 22, 2024
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Location: City Hall, Committee Room 1 and by video conference
Scarborough Civic Centre, 150 Borough Drive
Date: January 22, 2024
Time: 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location: Scarborough Civic Centre, Council Chamber and by video conference
Date: January 22, 2024
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Location: Scarborough Civic Centre, Council Chamber and by video conference
Etobicoke Civic Centre, 399 The West Mall
Date: January 23, 2024
Time: 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location: Etobicoke Civic Centre, Council Chamber and by video conference
Date: January 23, 2024
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Location: Etobicoke Civic Centre, Council Chamber and by video conference
North York Civic Centre, 5100 Yonge Street
Date: January 23, 2024
Time: 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location: North York Civic Centre, Council Chamber and by video conference
Date: January 23, 2024
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Location: North York Civic Centre, Council Chamber and by video conference
Budget Committee Review Schedule
On January 16-18, the Budget Committee will review the following divisional and agency budgets:
Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Toronto Fire Services
Toronto Paramedic Services
Children's Services
Economic Development and Culture
Toronto Employment and Social Services
Parks, Forestry and Recreation
Toronto Shelter and Support Services (formerly Shelter Support and Housing Administration)
Court Services
Seniors Services and Long Term Care
Social Development, Finance and Administration
Toronto Public Health
Toronto Public Library
Arena Boards of Management
Association of Community Centres
Exhibition Place
Heritage Toronto
TO Live
Toronto Atmospheric Fund
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
Toronto Zoo
Yonge-Dundas Square
Office of the Auditor General
Office of the Integrity Commissioner
Office of the Lobbyist Registrar
Ombudsman Toronto
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Toronto Water
Solid Waste Management Services
Municipal Licensing and Standards
Engineering and Construction Services
Toronto Emergency Management
Policy Planning, Finance and Administration
Transportation Services
Transit Expansion
Housing Secretariat
City Planning
Waterfront Revitalization
Toronto Building
Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) and Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation (TSHC)
Toronto Transit Commission
Thursday, January 18, 2024
Toronto Police Service
Toronto Police Services Board
Toronto Police Services Parking Tags Enforcement and Operations
Toronto Parking Authority
CreateTO
Corporate Real Estate Management
Customer Experience (formerly 311 Toronto)
Environment and Climate
Fleet Services
Office of the Chief Information Security Officer
Technology Services
Office of the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Office of the Controller
City Manager's Office
Legal Services
City Clerk's Office
City Council
Office of the Mayor
City of Toronto Budget Resources
Check out the City of Toronto budget webpage, updated regularly through the budget process. All City budget notes, briefing notes, presentations, and related budget documents are posted here: www.toronto.ca/budget