About City Budget Watch
Social Planning Toronto's City Budget Watch is back for the 2021 City of Toronto budget process! We'll be bringing you up-to-date reports and analysis on each step of the City budget process from launch date on Thursday, January 14, to final votes at City Council on February 18-19. We'll let you know how you can learn more, get involved, and have your say on the 2021 budget.
The City Budget Watch Blog is authored by Beth Wilson. Beth is our lead on policy and research at Social Planning Toronto, starting at our organization in 2002. She has a Master of Social Work (MSW), Policy, Organization and Community.
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Latest Posts
2021 City Budget: People's Budget Platform, Councillor Town Halls, Trainings, & Webinars
We're keeping a listing of all community-organized budget town halls, webinars and trainings, City Councillor budget town halls, and City of Toronto budget deputation sessions. Check this page regularly for updates. Want to add a budget event to the list? Email beth@socialplanningtoronto.org
2021 City Budget: Draft Budget Fails to Respond to Dire Emergency Impacting Toronto Communities
In the midst of a pandemic that has revealed and exacerbated deep and devastating social, racial, and spatial inequities in our city, communities are looking for big changes and bold action in the 2021 City of Toronto budget. That's not what they got at Thursday's budget launch. In response to an unprecedented and dire emergency, the 2021 City of Toronto staff-recommended (draft) budget is, in many ways, a status quo budget.
2021 City Budget: SPT's City Budget Watch is Back!
It’s beginning to look a lot like City of Toronto budget season with the City’s 2021 staff-recommended (draft) budget launch set for January 14. Back for a twelfth year, SPT’s City Budget Watch is up and running. We look forward to providing you with in-depth analysis of the City budget and sharing information on how you can get involved, learn more, and advocate for a better budget to create a more livable and equitable city for all.
More Budget Resources
Advocacy for a Better BudgetSPT and many partner organizations are hard at work preparing for the 2021 City budget. Each year, we work with communities to increase understanding of the City budget, engage residents to support civic engagement, and advocate for a better budget to improve life in Toronto. Some other groups to connect with:
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Join us in advocating for a better budget to build a better city!1. Our "City Budget Matters 101" series is bringing you the facts on several key issues Toronto is facing today and what City Council could do in the 2021 municipal budget to make a difference. Topics include municipal revenues, nonprofits' resilience, poverty reduction, and more coming soon! 2. Follow @planningtoronto and @bethwilson416 on Twitter. 3. Participate in our People's Budget Platform. 4. Attend one of our virtual budget town halls. |
Key Budget Dates
- January 14: Budget Committee launches the staff-recommended (draft) budget
- January 20-22: Budget Committee meets to review the budget; City staff make presentations and answer questions
- January 25-26: Budget Committee holds public presentations/deputations; members of the public share their advice, recommendations, stories, and concerns about the staff-recommended budget; everyone is welcome to participate – You don’t need to be a budget expert to take part! SPT and other organizations are here to help by providing training sessions and one-on-one support; stay tuned for details
- January 28 & February 4: Budget Committee holds its wrap up and final wrap up meetings where the committee receives City staff reports and makes and votes on motions to change the staff-recommended budget; for example, the committee could vote to increase funding to a service, or shift funding from one program area to another; no decisions are final until City Council votes at its February 18-19 meeting
- February 11: The Mayor’s Executive Committee meets to review the budget; the Mayor and Councillors on the Executive Committee may also move and vote on motions to make changes to the budget; final decisions rest with Council at its February 18-19 meeting
- February 18-19: Toronto City Council meets to review and vote on the final 2021 tax-supported budget; this final vote is, in fact, a series of votes on individual motions to make various changes to the budget; in past budget votes, Council has moved motions to increase funding for particular programs and services and reversed recommendations for service cuts; it all depends on how a majority of Council members vote on each motion
You can watch these meetings live or check out video recordings after the meetings on Council’s YouTube channel. All meetings start at 9:30 a.m.
City of Toronto Budget Resources
Check out the City of Toronto budget webpage. All City of Toronto budget notes, briefing notes, presentations, and related budget documents are posted on its webpage and will be updated regularly through the budget process. www.toronto.ca/budget
Get Involved! Budget Events Listing
We're keeping a list of all community-organized budget town halls, webinars and trainings, City Councillor budget town halls, and City of Toronto budget deputation sessions. Check out the budget events list for opportunities to learn more, get involved, and have your say! Want to add a budget event to the list? Email beth@socialplanningtoronto.org
Sign Up to Speak to the City's Budget Committee at Public Hearings/Deputations
Sign up to share your priorities for the 2021 City budget with the Budget Committee at its public hearings/deputations. Deputations take place on Monday, January 25 and Tuesday, January 26.
Email buc@toronto.ca and let the clerk know which date (Jan 25 or 26) and time slot (9:30 am to 12:30 pm OR 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm OR 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm) you would prefer. Register by Friday, January 22 at 4:30 p.m.