Weeks in the making, it’s time for Toronto City Council to debate the 2019 budget. Clear your schedule for the day and watch live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3tHjDE2oW8
Tory begins by saying he thinks people understand the “answer lies neither in the cutting of services nor does it lie in dramatic increases in taxation that people just can’t cope with.” Says the vast majority of people, if asked to make a city budget, would craft one like this.
As expected, Mayor Tory designates the agenda item setting the 2019 property tax rates as his key item, so it’ll be debated first. Once property tax rates are set, councillors won’t be able to increase service levels without identifying revenues to offset.
Councillor Perks asks Mayor if he’d consider letting council debate the property tax rate item and the operating/capital budget item simultaneously, to give more flexibility for service changes. Tory says no.
Here’s some background on the “key item” play at budget debates, from Mark Towhey’s book. https://x.com/GraphicMatt/status/963068651229212673
City Manager Chris Murray says if federal government does not deliver on the $45 million for shelter funding included in this budget, a report will come back to council recommending use of a reserve fund (or similar) to cover the shortfall.
News: Toronto Integrity Commissioner Valerie Jepson has written to Council urging them to restore the increases to her office’s budget that were removed by the budget committee. https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/cc/comm/communicationfile-92008.pdf (PDF)
Integrity Commissioner: “The enhancement request was accounted for in the overall City budget, but it was reversed when the Budget Committee considered the matter. I have not been provided with any reason or rationale for this decision.”
As part of the budget, staff have done analysis of what annual rent for a councillor constituency office would cost in each ward. Highest: Joe Cressy’s Ward 10 at $4,667 a month. Lowest: Gary Crawford’s Ward 20 at $1,939 a month. https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-130560.pdf (PDF)
As council starts to debate this year’s residential property tax rate, here’s a reminder of who is eligible to defer (until home sale) or outright cancel any tax increase. Low-income seniors can avoid increases, even if they own a home worth about a million dollars.
Councillor James Pasternak raises the spectre of the city’s voluntary contribution program, which allows residents to pay extra toward city programs. Few do, which right-leaning councillors use as evidence that people do not want higher property taxes.
The form to make a voluntary contribution to the City of Toronto was previously included with property tax bills. This year it’s been changed to only be available online, apparently. People do donate a fair amount of cash to animal-related programs. https://donations.toronto.ca
Like at executive committee, today’s staff presentation to council included a bunch of interesting and informative charts as appendices, but they didn’t show ‘em on screen. Start at page 35. https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-130608.pdf (PDF)
Here we go. Councillor Gord Perks moves to increase residential property taxes by an additional two percent (with other prop tax categories adjusted accordingly).
More motions! Mike Layton moves three motions: - Prop tax increase of 0.161% for child care subsidies - 0.22% for ravine litter pick-up -0.842% to stop TTC fare increase
(Whoops, my mistake: that ravine litter pick-up is 0.022%.)
“High taxes hurt people,” says Councillor James Pasternak. He says they “hurt people who have the dream of owning a home.” Lotta people can’t afford a home in this city, but even if property taxes were set to zero I don’t think it’d help much.
Councillor Josh Matlow introduces a motion to increase residential property taxes by another 0.06% for youth spaces, tenant defence fund and home share. Adds about $1.80 per household per year.
It is always amazing to me that so much of every council debate about property taxes hinges on “property tax increases will hurt seniors” while at the same time the city offers a program that exempts low-income seniors from property tax increases.
New councillors Mike Colle and Cynthia Lai have both said they’ll vote with Tory to keep residential property tax increase at the mayor’s preferred 2.55% rate, so it’s unlikely any of these proposed increases will pass.
Councillor Mike Colle: “If you think magically by increasing property taxes you’re going to solve all the social ills, all the housing shortfalls we have, dealing with settling newcomers, you’re dreaming in technicolour!”
Colle goes on to say that the city isn’t going to get help from the provincial government and probably not from the federal government, so, uh, shrug emoji?
Colle, fired up: “We have to find alternative ways of doing it, and I don’t have a magic bullet, but falling back on a property tax increase is a lazy way of doing it!”
Two motions from Councillor Wong-Tam: -0.006% additional residential property tax increase for Regent Park Aquatic Centre program pilot - 0.002% for Rent Bank
Budget chief Gary Crawford says it’s not responsible for councillors to move property tax increases to fund programs on the floor of council. He says councillors should bring those programs to next year’s budget debate.
Councillor Gord Perks’ motion to increase residential property tax rate by additional 2% (and also increase other property tax class rates proportionately) FAILS 5-20.
Councillor Mike Layton’s motion to increase residential property tax rates by additional 0.842% to cancel TTC fare increase FAILS 7-18.
Councillor Mike Layton’s motion to increase residential property taxes by additional 0.161% for child care subsidies FAILS 8-17.
Councillor Josh Matlow’s motion to increase residential property tax rate by additional 0.06% for youth spaces, tenant defence fund and seniors homesharing FAILS 8-16.
Councillor Mike Layton’s motion to increase residential property tax rate by 0.022% for ravine litter pick-up program FAILS (you guessed it!) 8-17.
Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam’s motion to increase residential property taxes by additional 0.006% for Regent Park Aquatic Centre pilot program FAILS 7-18.
Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam’s motion to increase residential property tax rate by additional 0.002% to fund the Rent Bank FAILS 8-17.
Here are the 2019 property tax rates approved by council just now. With these rates locked in, for the rest of this meeting councillors will need to identify an offset if they want to increase program spending.
Councillors apparently need to go into private session to discuss the yet-to-be-ratified agreement with the police union. Kicking everybody out of the chamber would take a while, so Nunziata decides to just break for lunch now. Back at 2.
Council has returned. Stream for the afternoon session of this budget debate is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf0n81Jrx4c
The Council Chamber’s new security measures are seemingly causing significant delays to this budget debate. Councillors want to ask questions to staffers but those staffers aren’t here yet.
Okay, now we’re back for real. Councillor Mike Layton asking questions to accountability officers about the budget committee’s decision to deny them requested increases in the 2019 budget.
The lobbyist registrar says her staff complement hasn’t changed since 2010, even though lobbying transactions have increased by over 400% in that time.
Deputy City Manager Tracey Cook says the city plans to take a joint approach to shutting down illegal cannabis storefronts. People like the pun.
City Manager Chris Murray tells council the Gardiner Expressway represents 53% — more than half — of the city’s ten-year state of good repair capital budget.
We’re on to budget motions. Councillor Jim Karygiannis moves to request the province provide more funding for Toronto paramedics.
Councillor Mike Layton moves to bring back the vehicle registration tax.
Layton also moves to get reports on: - Tying the accountability offices budgets to a percentage of the overall operating budget - increasing investment in affordable housing and child care in 2020 budget
Layton’s restored vehicle registration tax would be set at $60 per car per year, raising $55 million a year. Half that would go toward transit, and half would go toward winter road maintenance.
Karygiannis asks Layton if he’s cool with throwing in a $10-per-year bicycle registration fee into this motion. Layton is not cool with this, saying the city has looked at bike licensing/registration in the past, and found it’s unworkable.
Here is the City of Toronto’s webpage explaining why bike licensing efforts have failed in the past. https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/streets-parking-transportation/cycling-in-toronto/cycling-and-the-law/bicycle-licencing/
Councillor Michael Thompson moves to urge the federal government to fund the Anti-Violence programs council approved last year.
Thompson also moves to maintain funding for the homesharing pilot, that helps seniors share homes with young people.
Councillor Joe Cressy moves to have the city implement Focus and Crisis Response gun violence prevention programs within current budget, and report back if this turns out to be challenging.
Councillor Gord Perks moves to reduce the police budget by $3.35 million, and put that money toward expanding library hours.
Councillor Gord Perks also moves to reduce the police budget by $250K and put that money toward the TransformTO climate change mitigation program
Another Perks motion: to get a report on a “pricing strategy for on-street parking permits.” He notes his “twitter friends will like this one.” (By “twitter friends” he means @jm_mcgrath.)
Perks also has a motion to cut the police budget by $375K and put that money toward the Create Health Plus homelessness program.
Perks’ final motion is to take $190K from the Toronto Parking Authority dividend and give it to to the Integrity Commissioner.
Councillor Wong-Tam asks for a report on giving all City staff a raise comparable to what Toronto police officers will get in their new agreement.
Wong-Tam also moves for the budget to include funds for the Rent Bank and the Regent Park Aquatic Centre pilot program, both funded via offsets.
Council votes 23-2 to finish their agenda tonight. They’ll take a half hour break at 6.
Councillor Josh Matlow moves to add funding for tenant defence and youth spaces, funded by budget offsets.
Matlow: “I know this is a political place by nature. I know that there can be teams sometimes. I know that some of you love me, and some of you I’ve pissed off. I’m asking you from the bottom of my heart. These are really important programs, and they really make a difference.”
And now a break until 6:30.
Council is back. Councillor Mike Colle moves to request reports on snow clearing, pot holes and the ravine strategy — including a framework for dealing with invasive species, like the, uh, “dog-strangling vine.”
Toronto Council settling into that slightly goofy late evening vibe. Non-zero chance they do something like randomly eliminate the parks department or buy a bunch of hovercrafts.
This seems a good time to evaluate whether this smaller city council is having a noticeably more productive or streamlined budget debate than we’ve seen in past years. My analysis is… no.
I know, I know, it’s old news. But still: remember when the provincial government disrupted 47 ongoing democratic elections in Toronto and then said they’d use the notwithstanding clause to achieve… this?
Councillor Shelley Carroll moves an intriguingly wonky budget nerd motion, asking for a report on reducing the operating budget’s reliance on the land transfer.
Carroll on Toronto’s 2019 operating budget: “It’s only balanced if you don’t look too hard.”
Carroll disputes the notion that this is a uniquely “tough budget year.” “There is no magic pot of money coming next year,” she says.
Councillor Mark Grimes wants to further expedite Vision Zero efforts. Nice to see from a councillor representing a more suburban ward.
Councillor Stephen Holyday moves a pair of budget motions: First, to lengthen the phase out for the garbage bin fee subsidy. Second, to delete a report request that would look at “in-sourcing” snow clearing services.
Seems to have been a deal struck re: funding to increase access to Regent Park Aquatic Centre programming for Regent Park residents. Budget chief Gary Crawford moves an amendment adding $80K to the budget for pilot program cost.
Crawford brings up the city’s Moody’s AA1 credit rating, again, as proof the city is budgeting correctly.
It’s a weird flex because Moody’s cautioned against city’s reliance on land transfer tax and high level of unfunded capital needs, and neither is really addressed in this budget. Also increasing property taxes at level above inflation wouldn’t negatively impact credit rating.
Mayor Tory says again that it’s been a “tough budget year.” He thinks people understand that “this is not the year they’re going to expect we’re going to be launching a lot of new initiatives or bringing substantial increases to those that are even in priority areas.”
This “tough budget year” stuff is especially frustrating for me, the guy who has written “hey your reliance on the land transfer tax is going to cause obviously huge budget problems” several times a year every year since 2012.
Council about to vote on operating and capital budgets. Many, many amendments and report requests. This is going to get confusing.
Councillor Michael Thompson’s motion to spend $120K to continue the Homeshare pilot project that helps seniors share homes with young people CARRIES 25-0.
Councillor James Pasternak motion to have review of winter maintenance reported back to 2020 budget process CARRIES 23-2.
Councillor Joe Cressy’s motion to include funding for the Creating Health Plus homelessness program CARRIES 14-11.
Cressy’s motion to add $200K for the Focus and Crisis Response gun violence prevention program carries 25-0.
Perks’ motion to remove $3.35 million from police budget and use it to expand library hours FAILS 6-18.
Perks’ motion to reduce police budget by $250K and use it for TransformTO FAILS 7-18.
Perks’ motion for a report on a pricing strategy for on-street parking permits CARRIES 18-7. Perks defeats Tory.
Perks motion to reduce police budget by $375K and use the money for the Create Health Plus homelessness program FAILS 5-20.
Perks motion to reduce Toronto Parking Authority dividend by $190K and use money for Integrity Commissioner FAILS 8-17.
Wong-Tam’s motion to look at harmonizing sidewalk snow clearing city-wide and potentially internalizing snow clearing services CARRIES 21-4.
Crawford amendment to add $80K for the Regent Park Aquatic Centre access pilot project CARRIES 20-5.
Wong-Tam motion re: Regent Park Aquatic Centre pilot project as amended by Crawford CARRIES 20-5. It’ll get its funding.
Holyday’s motion to delete report request on potential of in-sourcing snow removal services FAILS 6-19.
Karygiannis motion to ask the province for more paramedics funding CARRIES 25-0.
Councillor Mike Layton’s motion for a report on bring back the $60 a year vehicle registration tax FAILS 8-18.
Layton’s motion for a report on setting the oversight office budgets at a percentage of overall operating budget CARRIES 20-6.
Layton motion for a report on increasing affordable housing and childcare spaces in 2020 budget CARRIES 25-1. This result draws a big laugh.
Thompson motion that council reaffirm last year’s decision on Immediate Steps to Address Gun Violence CARRIES 25-1.
Thompson motion urging the federal government to fund council’s anti-violence strategy CARRIES 25-1. “It wasn’t me!” says Holyday.
Wong-Tam motion for a report on giving city workers a cost of living raise comparable to what cops will get FAILS 10-16.
Councillor Paula Fletcher’s motion for a report on funding a shuttle service on Leslie Spit as part of the 2020 budget CARRIES 20-6.
Fletcher motion that staff review whether some streets that do not receive sidewalk snow clearing could technically receive the service CARRIES 18-8.
Councillor Shelley Carroll’s wonky motion requesting a report on Capital from Current Contributions and capping operating budget’s reliance on land transfer tax FAILS 12-14. Whoa.
Councillor Mark Grimes’ motion that city look at “need for private sector technical expertise” in expediting Vision Zero CARRIES 19-7.
Holyday’s motion to extend timeline for phase-out of garbage bin fee subsidies FAILS 7-19.
Motion to have staff monitor self-service hours at libraries with no staff and report on security issues CARRIES 25-0.
Toronto’s 2019 budget as amended as it pertains to telecom stuff (because mayor has a conflict of interest re: Rogers stuff) CARRIES 22-3.
Toronto’s budget as amended as it pertains to newswire stuff (separated because the mayor has an interest) CARRIES 22-3.
Budget as amended as pertains to Toronto Library (separated because Pasternak has an interest) CARRIES 24-1.
And the rest of Toronto’s 2019 operating/capital budget CARRIES 22-4. “Okay, so that’s done,” says Nunziata.
Councillor Mike Layton is now attempting to eliminate the city subsidy on industrial wastewater given to big companies. He does this every year. This could be his year!
Councillor Layton’s motion to eliminate subsidies for industrial wastewater (with a phase out) CARRIES 23-3. HE DID IT.
This is like the end of Rocky IV except instead of outlasting and then punching out Soviet Government Mike Layton has outlasted and punched out industrial wastewater subsidies.
Councillor Stephen Holyday has requested that the city delete a staff recommendation that Bike Share is a municipal system of merit, and return provincial funds for expansion.
Holyday says Bike Share only benefits part of the city and will never benefit other parts of the city.
Meanwhile, Councillor Gord Perks has moved to eliminate King Street Pilot parking discounts and to have TPA provide a market analysis for parking costs every year.
Councillor Bradford has moved for a report on adjusting city parking rates to be in line with market rates.
Councillor Stephen Holyday’s motion to NOT recognize Bike Share as a part of Toronto’s mobility network and return provincial funding for expansion FAILS 4-22. (ROBINSON?!??!)
Councillor Gord Perks motion to have TPA provide market analysis on parking rates annually carries on a voice vote.
Bradford motion to report on adjusting TPA rates to be in line with market rates CARRIES 20-6.
But wait, Councillor Anthony Perruzza wasn’t happy with his vote on this item, so they re-do. Bradford’s motion for a report on adjusting TPA rates to match parking rates CARRIES 21-5.
And that’s it. At 9:05 p.m. on March 7, 2019, the City of Toronto has approved budgets for all of its various programs and services for the year 2019.
Thanks for reading. If you appreciated anything in this giant thread of municipal budget coverage, consider subscribing to @cityhallwatcher. Post-budget analysis coming to inboxes everywhere Monday at 5 p.m. https://graphicmatt.substack.com