Here at Toronto City Council for the budget meeting!
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@GraphicMatt is also liveblogging with commentary!
Cllr Perks is absent as his mother has recently passed away (there is a moment of silence for her).
Speaker Nunziata is still reading out the explanation of how the budget works. Since the provincial "strong mayor" legislation (instituted when John Tory was mayor and the province was more kindly inclined to the idea), the Mayor has much more power over the budget, and Council only has the opportunity to vote on the distribution of certain funds. She can also veto amendments for up to 10 days after the meeting.
Mayor Chow has set a 2.2% increase in residential property tax, which is basically rock bottom. This has fueled speculation that she will run again in the mayoral election this fall. Really, there are no downsides to this:
A) she runs again, opponents unable to attack her for high taxes (yes, previous years' increases were higher, but the taxpayer won't be able to remember it)
B) someone else wins the election (either because she loses or doesn't run at all): they are financially screwed and have to raise taxes more anyway, and if she runs again in the future she can attack them for either i) high taxes, ii) the social costs of austerity, or iii) both
Oh, also as per my West End Phoenix calendar, today is the birthday of the Eaton Centre!
