The draft 2012 budget was introduced by the Mayor Monday, November 28. The cuts, “efficiencies” and increases to user fees proposed in the budget will have significant impacts on public services in Ward 19 and across the city. I want to ensure your voice is heard and that we work together as a community to stop these cuts. If you have not RSVP’d to our Ward 19 budget town hall being held this Thursday, please do so by e-mail councillor_layton@toronto.ca or phone (416) 392-4009.
I have been working hard to uncover what the proposed cuts will mean to you and our neighbourhoods. I will continue to update my website and I have listed some initial thoughts in this post.
The City of Toronto’s 2012 Budget
The City released the following notice today rescheduling the day the public can speak to the 2012 Operating and Capital Budgets to Wednesday December 7, 2011 at 9:30am.
On December 15, 2011 I will be holding a budget town hall to discuss the City of Toronto’s Capital and Operating budgets. The budgets come out on Monday November 28, 2011 and will be debated at Council on January 17, 2012.
The City of Toronto’s budget is responsible for many of the programs and public services we love and depend on. The 2012 Budget will be of particular importance to us since it follows the Mayors Core Service Review. The results of that exercise mean that throughout the 2012 Budget, Councillors will be faced with numerous proposals to drastically cut funding for vital city services. These cuts will affect you, your family and our community.
The Solid Waste and Water Budgets, also known as the rate-supported budgets, will be debated at City Council this November 29.
See the public notice regarding changes to your water rates here and to your waste collection rates here. Note that only rates that have changed are mentioned in the public notices, the other rates remain the same as 2011.
After reviewing the waste and water budgets there are a few items that I and others have found concerning, which we will attempt to have changed at the City Council meeting on November 29. Both proposed budgets result in cuts to services, higher costs to tax payers and more discounts for industry. The recent privatization of waste collection west of Yonge appears to have resulted in cuts to recycling collection, the elimination of Community Environment Days, and new charges to libraries, places of worship, charitable organizations and organizations which provide community support services. These service cuts will make it difficult for Torontonians to recycle and dispose of hazardous waste. The proposed water budget makes people pay more so industry can pay less. More companies will now receive a 30% break on their water bills, even those who break our by-laws, while residents will see a 9% increase in their water rates.
Service cuts are being considered as part of the Toronto Public Library’s 2012 budget. The board is considering cuts to our only library in Ward 19, the College/Shaw branch, and they are also considering major cuts to other libraries we use frequently such as the Bloor/Gladstone and Palmerston branches. Proposals include cutting 19,444 service hours and 106,000 new items for library collections. You can see the full list of the branches that may be affected by the proposed cuts to library hours here. I will not be supporting any reduction in hours or cuts to programs in libraries.
I will be holding a public consultation with neighbouring Councillor Ana Bailão get your feedback on the proposed cuts, to inform you about the potential reductions and give you an opportunity to speak with library staff.
Please join us at this meeting:
Date: Friday November 25, 2011
Time: 6:30pm – 8pm
Location: Bloor/Gladstone Library
1101 Bloor Street West, east of Bloor and Dufferin (map)
RSVP: councillor_layton@toronto.ca or call (416) 392-4009
The library is conducting a survey to assess the impact of possible cuts to programs and library hours. Please take the time to fill in this survey here and ask others to as well.
The Wellesley Institute has released a report that argues the City can bring its budgetary shortfall down to zero without cutting city services and without selling off assets.
The report is titled “Countdown to Zero: Balancing Toronto’s Budget” and examines the city’s annual budgeting process over the last five years demonstrating that today’s fiscal challenges are nothing new.
See the fact sheet for the report here.
Read the full report here.
Find out more on the Wellesley Institute’s website here.
- Dates of City Hall budget meetings where you can have your say
- How to sign up to speak at, or submit a letter to, a Budget Committee meeting
- City Hall 2012 Budget meeting dates (Councillors may hold other meetings)
The City of Toronto’s budget is responsible for many of the programs and public services we love and depend on. The 2012 Budget will be of particular importance to us. In March 2011, our mayor and council started a review of city services, called the Core Service Review, with the goal of finding cost savings for this budget. The results of that exercise mean that throughout the 2012 Budget, Councillors will be faced with numerous proposals to drastically cut funding for vital city services. These cuts will affect you, your family and our community.
