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 the public and Councillors to hear more about the budget (through a series of presentations). 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.
- 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.
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