State of Toronto's 2019 budget

Our city faces many challenges, like affordable housing, strained infrastructure, climate change and social inequity. Our municipal government at City Hall has a responsibility to stay on top of these ongoing challenges by restructuring elements of Toronto’s budget. City Council must find ways to secure income and funding in order to provide us with the services that we need and rely on.The City’s budget committee has approved a $13.46 billion operating budget for 2019. This year’s budget includes a 2.55% property tax increase, a 3% water rate increase, and a 10-cent TTC fare-hike.Budget Chief, Councillor Gary Crawford, highlights that the 2019 budget operates without cuts to services and makes substantial investments in transit, policing and other important initiatives. Other councillors, including Councillor Mike Layton, don’t foresee the proposed budget rectifying issues effectively enough to sustain the growing needs of people throughout Toronto.Layton says, "We need bolder solutions and a break from the status quo.” Layton also notes he would challenge other councillors to make the necessary investments in services like winter road maintenance - which is popular among many Torontonians after recent snowstorms. The idea of building a prosperous city for everyone has become a guiding principle in the budgeting process, but that needs to be a reality supported by numbers.While allocating more towards the TTC is critical for our future, the 10-cent fare hike will negatively impact many TTC riders - from students to seniors. TTC riders already pay some of the highest prices for transit in North America.  The lack of affordable housing and homelessness are large issues here in Toronto. The City has reaffirmed its commitment to adding 1000 shelter beds by 2020, costing $62 million. Toronto Community Housing will be receiving $195 million towards priority repairs. While these increases are seen as steps in the right direction, many demand more long-term investments in social housing, shelters and other supports in order to help alleviate the burden for those in need and Toronto’s record-high rents. Many have either heard of or witnessed construction for the Basement Flooding Protection Program in their neighbourhood. This program provides the necessary upgrades to our sewer and watermain system to help ensure that we can handle heavy rainfall during serious storms. These upgrades further help to prevent basement flooding. This program costs $58 million and is one way that we can be better prepared for climate change at the municipal level.Executive Committee must deliberate the budget before it moves ahead to be fully debated and finalized by the rest of City Council this month. For more information, including a thorough breakdown and explanation of different elements of the budget, please visit: https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/budget-finances/city-budget/

Ward 8 Environment Days

Toronto budget talks in Downsview

The city’s 2016 budget forgets most vulnerable populationsIt was a full house at the Bathurst-Finch Community Hub last month when concerned Downsview residents gathered to learn about Toronto’s 2016 budget.The forum was organized by Social Planning Toronto as part of their Budget Watch series of events. Presenters Israt Ahmed of Social Planning Toronto and Myles Stocker of TTC Riders focused on the need for new revenue tools and the lack of support in the budget for the city’s most vulnerable populations.“The city doesn’t have a spending problem, it has a revenue problem” said Ahmed. Social Planning Toronto is asking questions about how the city can create new and equitable revenue tools. They are advocating that we cannot continue to rely so heavily on revenue sources such as the Residential Property Tax, which disproportionately affects lower-income families. As indicated in a briefing note by City staff, possible revenue tools could include an LCBO tax, which could generate $44 million, a parking tax at $300 million and a tobacco tax that could net $25 million.Also facing issues with revenue and subsidies is the Toronto Transit Commission, which was another focal point of the meeting. The TTC is the city’s second highest cost only behind the police budget, yet we still face consistent fare hikes and little improvement to service.
Stocker highlighted the fact that the TTC is the least subsidized transit system in North America. “If more people knew, we’d be more ashamed about it” he said. “There have been no subsidy increases and riders are expected to pick up the slack for the system being underfunded. Government has to accept that you can’t pay for the system through the fare box.”How does this lack of funding for the TTC affect communities like Downsview? Stocker noted that since much of the attention is often around capital projects, communities relying heavily on bus services are forgotten. “New projects are great but we also need to focus on existing services that need improvement” he said.TTC Riders has been advocating for a low-income Metropass to improve equity and accessibility within our transit system. The current cost of a monthly pass is out of reach for many and even the cash fare increase that took effect in January of this year creates a greater struggle. This need for funding to address the growing lack of affordability within our city is also a core concern at Social Planning Toronto, where they have been tirelessly championing the Poverty Reduction Strategy.In November 2015, City Council unanimously approved the Poverty Reduction Strategy, yet there is not enough new investment in the budget to help those suffering from poverty. Communities like Downsview have a voice and need to speak up for those who are most vulnerable. Ahmed was sure to remind us of this before encouraging everyone to get involved; “People think politics is just for elections. Politics is everyday. Speak out.”City Council approved the 2016 budget on February 17^th but Social Planning Toronto and TTC Riders will continue to advocate for the Poverty Reduction Strategy and equitable transit access. They both have petitions and information on how you can get involved on their websites: www.socialplanningtoronto.orgwww.ttcriders.ca