“Just like a family, we are saving money by evaluating our spending and making the tough but needed choices”

An op-ed from Mayor John Tory

The single biggest cheque most families write each year is for their property taxes. I was elected on a mandate to keep property tax increases at or below the rate of inflation. And as much as some councillors will say their residents are begging to pay more taxes, the majority of Torontonians voted for candidates who called for strict discipline on property tax hikes. Next week, the 2017 budget goes to city council for final approval. I’m proud to tell you that the budget will continue to deliver on my campaign pledge and that this year’s tax increase will be below the rate of inflation. We’ve been able to keep taxes low for the last three years thanks to the hard work of Budget Chief Gary Crawford and his budget committee. The councillors on this important committee have been able to find millions of dollars in savings and free up money to put towards services that Toronto residents need. Some of the highlights of this year’s budget include our transit spending. We’re spending $80 million more on the TTC to get Toronto moving. We’re buying 800 new buses. And we’ll continue work on the subway extension to York University, SmartTrack, and the Scarborough Subway Extension. We’re investing over $55 million in community grants to support recreation and art programs, festivals and special events. And we’re increasing library hours. I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish in this year’s budget. Now I’m sure you’ve heard some critics of the budget make some outrageous claims about this year’s process. They’ve spread their doom and gloom over the last few weeks. They’ve claimed we’re slashing city services. Nothing could be further from the truth. Just like a family, we are saving money by evaluating our spending and making the tough but needed choices that will keep us living within our means. We have found savings by going line-by-line through some of the city’s biggest budgets including the TTC and Toronto Police.

We have asked staff to look at their budgets and come up with at least 2.6% in reductions. Looking at those proposed reductions we have rejected some cuts because we know imposing them would make life harder for Toronto families. So as a result of this process, we will not end up cutting recreation programs, arts and culture funding, security for Toronto Community Housing or library hours. Every shelter the city funds will stay open and every fire station – all 83 of them – will keep operating. As a result of tightening our belts, we have freed up enough cash to ensure the city can operate the Spadina subway extension when it opens at the end of this year along with dozens of other service enhancements included in the 2017 budget. This is a budget that saves money but also spends money where it is needed most. But rest assured. As soon as this budget process ends, my administration will be focused on finding more savings for next year’s budget so that we can continue to keep property taxes low and invest in services.