On the eve of final votes on the 2024 City Budget, SPT and 64 other community-based organizations and grassroots groups sent a joint letter to Toronto City Council, calling on all members to support the Mayor’s budget, including a property tax rate increase of 9.5% and no cuts to any of the service enhancements.

Read the full text of the letter below.

And for our rundown on the budget votes, visit our City Budget Watch blog.

Dear City Council and Mayor Olivia Chow, 

The proposed Mayor’s budget responds to community calls for greater investments to build a more livable, thriving, and equitable Toronto that works for all. We thank the Budget Committee, the Mayor, and City Council for taking a different approach to funding our city this year.

Your support for the 2024 City Budget tabled by the Mayor is a crucial step in moving forward with the Long-Term Financial Plan passed by Council and will have a real and immediate impact on addressing the urgent crises in affordability our communities are facing. 

Across the city, the communities we live in and serve are struggling with inflation, rising rents, and unaffordable housing. Every day, an increasing number of residents are forced to make the choice between paying their rent and feeding their families. Our organizations and staff are struggling to respond to community needs amid high and growing demand, with stagnate funding and resources. 

Many of our organizations and the residents we work with participated in the pre-budget consultations and Budget Committee deputations to share our stories of living in an unaffordable and unequal city. What we see in this year’s proposed budget is a budget that prioritizes and supports residents who are struggling the most. We are pleased to see increased investments that will keep people housed, engage more low-income youth and families, build stronger and safer communities, and keep transit riders moving all across the city. 

We are deeply concerned that affordable housing programs, tenant supports, eviction prevention, homeless support services, and other critical programs will be at risk if City Council votes against the proposed property tax increase or if it decides to reallocate funds away from these critical community programs. 

As community-based organizations and grassroots groups, we are calling on all members of City Council to support the Mayor’s budget, including a property tax rate increase of 9.5% and no cuts to any of the service enhancements. 

We believe this is the budget Toronto needs to begin building a city that cares for all its residents.

Signed,

Social Planning Toronto
Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services
Accessible Housing Network
AGATA Resource Centre. Inc.
Albion Neighbourhood Services
Autistics for Autistics: Self Advocacy in Ontario
Bangladeshi-Canadian Community Services (BCS)
ClimateFast
Coalition for Equitable and Inclusive Development
Council of Agencies Serving South Asians
CUPE 2484
CUPE Local 79
Davenport Perth Neighbourhood and Community Health
Dixon Hall
Don Valley Community Legal Services
Donnelly Communications & Community Development
East York Organize
ECULINKS Etobicoke
Empowerment Council
Ethno Racialized People with Disabilities Coaltion
Etobicoke Services for Seniors
Fairlawn Avenue United Church
Federation of Metro Tenants' Associations
FeedScarborough
Flemingdon Health Centre
Groupe Artisanal Feminin Francophone de L'Ontario (GAFFO)
Holistic Sustainable Development Network Int.
MCIS Language Solutions
North York Community House
OCASI - Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants
Older Women’s Network
Ontario Disability Coalition
Ontario Steelpan Association
Plant Based Treaty
Policing-Free Schools
Private Citizen of Toronto
Progress Toronto
Right to Housing Toronto (R2HTO)
Romero House
Scarborough Civic Action Network
Scarborough Environmental Association
Scarborough Food Network
Scarborough Village Community Garden
Silent Voice Canada
South Asian Women's Rights Organization Inc
St. Matthew's Islington
Stonegate Community Ecumenical Ministry
The Blackstone Foundation Library
The Centre for Active Transportation
The GTA Disability Coalition
The Toronto Drop-In Network
The Neighbourhood Group Community Services (TNGCS)
TNO - The Neighourhood Organization
Toronto ACORN
Toronto & York Region Labour Council
Toronto Child Care Advocates
Toronto Community for Better Child Care
Toronto Neighbourhood Centres
Toronto Public Library Workers Union - CUPE Local 4948
Toronto Public Space Committee
TTCriders
West Neighbourhood House
West Scarborough Neighbourhood Community Centre
Working Women Community Centre
YWCA Toronto