Discussion

Had to make coffee and talk to roommate, missed a bit. Before I forget, I just want to mention this bit from a City press release I got in my email this morning:

We’re making Toronto more fair by asking empty home speculators and luxury property buyers - the top 2% of all buyers - to chip in more to make life more affordable.

I've been ignoring this because it's completely meaningless, you could always pay more property taxes than required, and someone always brings up the low uptake on this at every Council budget meeting as a specious argument for why people don't want higher taxes. OK now back to ignoring it.

#TOcouncil #TOpoli

Neville Park

@nev@status.nevillepark.ca replied · last week

And we're live! Budget chief Shelley Carroll welcomes everyone to the newly upgraded Committee Room 1, "which we're calling 'the bridge'. I have Lt. Sulu to my left, and Deanna Troi…" She also reminds councillors that the acoustics have been much improved so they should have their private conversations elsewhere.

#TOcouncil #TOpoli

Neville Park

@nev@status.nevillepark.ca replied · last week

There are various opportunities for public feedback coming up, both virtually and in person, on Jan. 14/15 and 20/21: https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/budget-finances/city-budget/how-to-get-involved-in-the-budget/

The Budget Committee then votes on it on the 23rd and it goes to Council on Feb. 10.

#TOcouncil #TOpoli

City of Toronto

Get Involved in the Budget

Watch Budget Committee meetings this week, attend a telephone town hall or register to speak to Budget Committee ahead of next week. Your feedback is an important part of the City Budget process. Together, we’re building a city that works for you.

Neville Park

@nev@status.nevillepark.ca replied · last week

City Manager Paul Johnson jokes that, based on his hairline, he wants his Star Trek analogue to be Jean-Luc Picard. Here's the presentation (PDF).

The main number: a 2.2% residential property tax increase. Quick refresher on how property taxes work in Toronto (note: Substack link.)

2.2% is relatively meagre, basically the bare minimum, so it will be interesting to dig into the details and see what they're cutting/delaying or where they're getting the money.

#TOcouncil #TOpoli

How property taxes work — and how they don't

City Hall Watcher #315: Guest contributor David Hains makes his City Hall Watcher debut to resurrect a classic about how property taxes REALLY work, plus the latest notes from the budget

Neville Park

@nev@status.nevillepark.ca replied · last week

Lmao the special yellow bar for "unanticipated budget pressures".

Unanticipated pressures: $268M
Provincial change in Automated Speed Enforcement ($99M)
Declining transit ridership ($39M)
Added refugee and asylum pressure – at time of submission, prior to federal agreement ($109M)
Extended paramedics hiring plan ($7M)

#TOcouncil #TOpoli

Neville Park

@nev@status.nevillepark.ca replied · last week

The City Manager notes that the number of refugees/asylum claimants in the shelters system has plummeted (I'm assuming based on federal law changes) and that the City has reached an agreement with the federal government on funding for refugee/asylum claimant shelters (drastically cut last year).

He also touts the City's "progress" in kicking out people forced to shelter in parks, which, that sounds like an expenditure and not a budget win, but ok

#TOcouncil #TOpoli

Neville Park

@nev@status.nevillepark.ca replied · last week

CHART! CHART! CHART! CHART!

(This chart is in the budget presentation every year.)

#TOcouncil #TOpoli

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