We start this post with a quote from the Star's Royson James. He refers to the City's Budget Committee Chair, our ward councillor, Shelley Carroll: "her "strength" has been the ability to tell you, with a straight face, that the budget earth is flat when all evidence suggests it is round". He makes this assertion in a review of the signed up and potential candidates for mayor: Joe Pantalone born again as tightwad.
He also states that "Carroll has been a loquacious budget chief who has defended each spending decision with vigour and resolve."
Yesterday, Councillor Carroll spoke about the latest city budget proposal to a breakfast gathering of 30 at the Board of Trade. (She followed up Wednesday night with a town hall presentation before 12).
The Star reports Budget boss defends city But Shelley Carroll admits police force and TTC could do more to slash their spending. According to this report she "scolds" the authors of a BOT column in the Star for their presentation of a continuing "structural deficit" faced Toronto (see our post down below that refers to BOT article). Click here for the Mirror's Dave Nichols report
Apparently, she feels that all will be well when the province like other jurisdictions starts to pay big share of the operating cost of public transit in the big city. Mayor Miller wants to settle the issue by Dec. 1 (McQuinty has only agreed to talk about talking. We are left to wonder even if the province will keep its word on putting more money into the city's social services budget_reminder of the Harris download burden.)
As we suggested in an earlier post asking for a TTC helping hand after the Mayor brags to Torontonians that they have the lowest taxes in the GTA will not go well over a few blocks north of City Hall at Queens Park_given the province's deficit situation even with the expected revenue boost from the HST, the ability of the city to run a surplus and find "service efficiencies and cost savings" and Caplan's exhortations on the TTC and water services. If Caplan feels that Ontarians can easily accommodate $50 a month more for water and sewage ("just like an average internet bill") then what does he or McQuinty think about a 4% rise in property taxes that adds less than $100 to the average annual residential tax bill in Toronto.
A wise person might conclude that the province does not or will not look at Toronto's financial situation kindly until the city pushes for property tax increases that will cause the residential ratepayers to scream in the streets and threaten the political lives of the Mayor and Council.
Our councillor has asked for a "mature" discussion. But when presented with a mayor who should know better and by experts who suggest changing how the city does it budgeting and financial reporting (see posts below) she tunes out the latter and says nothing contrary to the departing mayor about his inappropriate remarks.
We hope our councillor takes the opportunity to run for mayor so that there is one candidate who has been looking at the city finances closely for a few years and should be on top of suggestions for improving the city's financial future.
We would also hope that the "budget chief" can explain why using city recreational facilities is becoming more onerous. Is the city seeking to save a few "nickels and dimes" and forgetting about the quality of its neighbourhoods ?
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