Yesterday, Toronto found out how staff, budget committee and Mayor would do the "impossible" and show off a "balanced" budget for 2010 with only a 4% increase to the residential numbers. That is, after starting off with a yawning gap of $500-800 million, the city only needed us to provide $87,000,000 to cut out a gap after allowing for increases in union labour costs (TPS, TTC, CUPE, ...).
The Mayor did not sound creditable about keeping the Toronto rates at the lowest in the GTA. I guess he hasn't been driving around the city much this winter_ he hasn't seen the crumbling road surfaces. Maybe, the unused snow removal will be used for massive road work (& disruptions) this spring and summer.
If you really want the scoop or poop, you might consider these columns links from today 's Star
James Is Toronto really as broke as it says? and
Hume Queen's Park shares blame for city's troubles.
Please read beyond the column headline. Should the city negotiate for a TTC operating subsidy or rather, a regular city grant for operating and infrastructure needs_ not tied to the TTC? Would regular provincial TTC op grants just build in an allowance for rich wage & benefit increases?
Time to get the City Budget in line, we the residents of Toronto are being taxed to the hilt, and the services are getting worse.
ReplyDeleteWe need some accountabilty from our City Council, which has not been shown in the last 4 years if you ask me.
Time for CHANGE at Silly Hall, we have an election coming up later this year, time for all concerned residents to show up and cast your vote, its your right.
David Slotnick-President
Willowdale Neighbourhood Association
dslotnick@rogers.com