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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Most recent blog entries
2021 City Budget: City Council Passes 1st COVID Budget, Some New Policy Directions, But Little New Funding
On February 18, Toronto City Council passed the 2021 City budget. City Council made few changes to the original staff-recommended (draft) budget launched back on January 14. Most significant, the budget shortfall resulting from the pandemic has been reduced to $649 million (plus an additional $15.4 million that is unfunded and required from the provincial government for supportive housing and $61 million that is unfunded and required from the federal government for supports for refugees).
2021 City Budget: SPT & Daily Bread Call for Luxury Homes Tax - Read Our Op-Ed
Housing is a matter of human rights, public health, and racial justice. Every order of government has a responsibility to act. What about Toronto?
2021 City Budget: Budget Committee Review, Briefing Notes, and New Events
The Budget Committee's work on the 2021 City of Toronto budget is almost complete. Following the budget launch on January 14, the committee met to review the budget on January 20-22, receiving presentations from City staff, asking questions of staff, and voting on motions to request briefing notes to inform budget decisions. This week, the committee hosted two days of public hearings/deputations to hear from the public (Jan 25+26) and met for its first of two wrap up meetings. At the January 28th wrap up meeting, the committee received staff reports and briefing notes and had an opportunity to ask questions of staff. Here are the highlights from these recent jam-packed weeks.