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
- October 1 to 31: Budget Consultations. Toronto residents are encouraged to engage in Budget Consultations by using this online survey (October 31 is the final day) and/or register for one of the online or in-person meetings taking place between October 19 and October 30.
- January 13: Budget Committee Launch.
- January 15 to 17: Budget Committee Review.
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January 21 and 22: 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 21 or 22, further details (including times, locations, and registration information) will be released in January 2025.
- January 24: 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 11: City Council (Special). Council’s final vote on the Budget.
Have Your Say: Telephone Town Halls and Public Hearings/Deputations (Dates and Times)
Speak to Budget Committee on January 21 or 22 in person or by video conference.
To register to speak email [email protected] or call 416-392-4666. Please choose a preferred day and timeslot (see list below) and register to speak by 4:30 p.m. the day before the meeting. Registered speakers will be provided with instructions about how to join the meeting.
The meetings will stream live on the City Council YouTube channel.
City Hall, Committee Room 1, 100 Queen St. W.
Tuesday, January 21
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Scarborough Civic Centre, Council Chamber, 150 Borough Dr.
Tuesday, January 21
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Etobicoke Civic Centre, Council Chamber, 399 The West Mall
Wednesday, January 22
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
North York Civic Centre, Council Chamber, 5100 Yonge St.
Wednesday, January 22
9:30 am to 12:30 pm
1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Budget Committee Review Schedule
Schedule and details will be released in early 2025.
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
Social Planning Toronto Budget Resources
Upcoming budget events:
https://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/city_budget_watch_calendar
Recordings of past events, including A Deeper Dive Into Revenue Tools, A City Budget Primer, our Housing Deputation Workshop, and our 2025 Budget Town Hall, can be viewed here: https://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/past_budget_events
For events organized independently of SPT, see Progress Toronto's Budget Training Series, which will run from January 15 - February 11.
City Budget Watch Blog:
https://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/city_budget_watch_2025
Organizing a budget forum:
This guide was assembled in March 2020 by Social Planning Toronto's Rebecca Tom and Saroja Ponnambalam following a budget forum hosted in Lawrence Heights. The collected strategies can be used to host a budget forum in your own community. Access the guide here.
Stay informed:
Learn about how to stay informed via the City Budget Watch.
Resources on Key Issues
Poverty & Income
Poverty Reduction Strategy: https://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/poverty_reduction_now
Housing & Homelessness
Right to Housing Toronto: https://right2housingto.ca/
Toronto Alliance to End Homelessness: https://taeh.ca/
Tenant Rights
Toronto ACORN: https://acorncanada.org/locations/toronto-acorn/
Federation of Metro Toronto Tenants’ Association: https://www.torontotenants.org/
Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario: https://www.acto.ca/
Transit
Protecting Wheel Trans Service: https://www.ttcriders.ca/wheeltranscuts
Keep and Expand Wifi on TTC: https://www.ttcriders.ca/wifi
Fare capping: https://www.ttcriders.ca/farecapping
Revenue Tools
Commercial Parking Levy:
https://www.ttcriders.ca/fundtransitold
Video - Learn more about progressive taxes and revenue tools: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L23VoIdGCbY&t=4s
Climate
Protecting tenants against extreme heat: https://www.torontoenvironment.org/protect_toronto_tenants_from_heat
Flood Safety: https://www.torontoenvironment.org/time_for_toronto_to_act_on_flood_safety
Alternatives To Funding Police
SURJ's letter writing campaign: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/hit-the-cops-lock-say-no-to-a-bigger-police-force-say-yes-to-a-safe-and-just-toronto-2