Toronto Council meets today!
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The Speaker reminds Council of the rules of this meeting, which changed with the "strong mayor" legislation. Councillors can propose amendments to Chow's budget, but there won't be a vote on whether to approve the budget as a whole. It'll be deemed adopted following the end of the meeting.
Budget deliberations begin with Councillor Holyday, who has questions. He gets the TTC to confirm there's a $35 million reserve draw in their budget. Holyday then suggests this reserve draw wouldn't be necessary if TTC just increased fares and reversed policies like fare capping and kids-ride-free.
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Budget deliberations begin with Councillor Holyday, who has questions. He gets the TTC to confirm there's a $35 million reserve draw in their budget. Holyday then suggests this reserve draw wouldn't be necessary if TTC just increased fares and reversed policies like fare capping and kids-ride-free.
CFO Stephen Conforti says there's about $1.7 billion in reserve draws in this budget, about $400 million more than last year. Conforti says that $400 million is driven by FIFA and election costs and provincial funds for shelter costs that were temporarily stashed in a reserve fund.
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CFO Stephen Conforti says there's about $1.7 billion in reserve draws in this budget, about $400 million more than last year. Conforti says that $400 million is driven by FIFA and election costs and provincial funds for shelter costs that were temporarily stashed in a reserve fund.
Pasternak asks the burning question: why hasn't the province formally taken over ownership of the Gardiner and the DVP yet? It's been a couple of years. City Manager says "due diligence" is done, but "final uploading of this will take some time." There are "operational issues" to work through.
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Pasternak asks the burning question: why hasn't the province formally taken over ownership of the Gardiner and the DVP yet? It's been a couple of years. City Manager says "due diligence" is done, but "final uploading of this will take some time." There are "operational issues" to work through.
Some news: City Manager Paul Johnson says a contribution agreement from the province to provide $97 million for FIFA costs is "headed my way today" and he'll be signing it shortly.
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Some news: City Manager Paul Johnson says a contribution agreement from the province to provide $97 million for FIFA costs is "headed my way today" and he'll be signing it shortly.
Pasternak thanks the police for their "great work" then asks about protests in the city, which have cost the cops $44 million in recent years. "This doesn't sound like peaceful assembly," says Pasternak. "Can we keep hiding behind the charter while this is going on on our streets?"
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Pasternak thanks the police for their "great work" then asks about protests in the city, which have cost the cops $44 million in recent years. "This doesn't sound like peaceful assembly," says Pasternak. "Can we keep hiding behind the charter while this is going on on our streets?"
"I would hardly characterize us as 'hiding behind the charter'," says police rep in response to Pasternak. "But rather protecting the charter. And respecting the charter."
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"I would hardly characterize us as 'hiding behind the charter'," says police rep in response to Pasternak. "But rather protecting the charter. And respecting the charter."
Councillor Saxe asks if there's a hidden "gravy train" at city hall — waste that could be cut without cutting service.
"There are not hundreds of millions of dollars of 'waste'," says City Manager. But he notes city is always looking for ways to be efficient. $135 million in savings this year.
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Councillor Saxe asks if there's a hidden "gravy train" at city hall — waste that could be cut without cutting service.
"There are not hundreds of millions of dollars of 'waste'," says City Manager. But he notes city is always looking for ways to be efficient. $135 million in savings this year.
Councillor Shelley Carroll asks the police about their budget increase. The cops say the entire 7% increase is going to their multi-year hiring plan and paying for costs related to their collective bargaining agreement. "90% of the police budget is labour."
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Councillor Shelley Carroll asks the police about their budget increase. The cops say the entire 7% increase is going to their multi-year hiring plan and paying for costs related to their collective bargaining agreement. "90% of the police budget is labour."
Noting the cops have been hiring a lot, Carroll asks, "What's new about this year? Do we now move into being able to add supervision that is badly needed?"
"Yes," says the chief. "This budget, as part of the multi-year hiring plan, is going to focus on supervision where we need it the most."
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Councillor Saxe asks if there's a hidden "gravy train" at city hall — waste that could be cut without cutting service.
"There are not hundreds of millions of dollars of 'waste'," says City Manager. But he notes city is always looking for ways to be efficient. $135 million in savings this year.
@GraphicMatt I thought the Ford days had made it clear that this was not a reasonable question.
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