Dear Residents,
The 2012 City Budgets have been approved and the work to build a better city continues!
Before providing details of what services have been protected, what cuts have passed and what it all means for Ward 20, let me say thank you.
Thank you to all of you who showed up to budget meetings, and came to council. Thanks to those of you who wrote letters, made phone calls, wore buttons, marched in rallies and spoke to friends and neighbours. Your passion for this city, its neighbourhoods and the people of Toronto was as astonishing as it was inspiring.
Tens of thousands of Torontonians signed petitions and wrote letters, while more than 800 people came to speak in person.
As a result of your voices being raised and heard at City Hall, library hours will not be cut, the TTC has the money it needs to sustain service levels, daycare centres in schools and the community shall remain open and hungry students will be fed. The list goes on.
I was proud to play a role in bringing Council together to pass a much better budget than originally proposed. I am encouraged by how members from all parts of Toronto representing different neighbourhoods, north and south of Eglinton, east and west of Yonge Street chose common ground over the battle ground and fashioned a better budget. Better, but not perfect.
The year ahead provides a new set of challenges. The small set of councillors who are still in pursuit of a radically conservative agenda have several initiatives underway – some coming to council shortly: the sell-off of public housing, the privatization of public housing, and a campaign for a casino are just some of the fights that lie ahead.
There is also the prospect of a work stoppage at the City. Garbage collection, daycare, rink operations and all other city services are among the many areas to be affected. Council’s Labour Relations Committee has initiated a process that almost seems certain to result in a lock out. The action seems even more aggressive in light of the fact that City workers involved have not even talked of scheduling a strike vote, let alone holding one. City workers have offered to freeze wages for three years the City’s chair of Labour Relations has countered by asking employees to surrender seniority rights.
In the event of a work stoppage constituency work will continue as it did in the last term of council. Details will follow as events unfold.
Again, thanks for all of your support over the long budget process, and thanks in advance as we continue to work together to build stronger neighbourhoods and a stronger city too.
City Budget Highlights
City Council approved a 2012 Operating Budget of $9.358 billion and a 2012-2021 Capital Budget and Plan of $14.836 billion. Council also approved a 2.5 per cent property tax increase for residents, a 0.83 per cent tax increase for businesses and a 10-cent fare increase for the TTC.
In approving the budget, Council voted to use $19 million of the City’s surplus to protect the following services and programs:
• Free recreation programming for children, youth and older adults at priority centres
• Three city-run childcare centres
• Ice rinks – keep open during off-peak hours
• Programs at shared-use pools in Toronto District School Board schools
• Downsview Dells, Birchmount, and Bellwoods shelters
• Mechanical leaf collection in Etobicoke and parts of Scarborough
• Three staff positions at the Toronto Environment Office
• Live Green Toronto Animator’s program
• The Community Partnership Investment Program (CPIP) for non-arts community grants to support programs geared towards seniors, youth, and immigrant women in priority neighbourhoods
• Immigrant Women’s Health Centre
• School-based childcare rent subsidy
• TTC routes that were slated for reduction
• Libraries – preserve current service levels including hours, programs, and material collections
Adam Vaughan
City Councillor
Ward 20
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