February 8th - TorontoCAN Budget Update
(with some figures from Olivia Chow's Office)
What's been happening?
The Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) began meeting February 1 to review
the recommendations made by the Standing Committees. The various
standing committees were the first to review the proposed municipal
budget and propose to reverse some cuts or add some more. These
recommendations were sent to the BAC for further review and discussion.
What happens next?
The BAC wraps up its discussions on Monday, February 11. The budget then
goes to the joint Policy & Finance and Budget Advisory Committees on
February 18, where citizens and communities will once again have a
change to speak to the committees in deputations in order to support
needed services. IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO TRY TO SAVE THESE SERVICES!
TorontoCAN will be organizing or supporting a number of events in these
next two weeks, so stay posted!
What happened this week?
Some of the victories won in the standing committees have been reversed,
while other issues have moved forward.
A brief overview:
Children and Youth
STILL AT RISK! The original budget had called for $1 million to be cut
from child care centres' health and safety costs, including playgrounds
retrofit, which could mean that some child care centres risk closure.
The Community Services standing committee did not recommend to reverse
that cut, nor did the BAC. The $1 million cut remains.
A TURNAROUND! The original budget recommended that the City stop paying
$960,000 to school board for the rent on child care centres, which would
mean that 18,596 parents will have to pay more money (approximately $650
per parent per year) to make up for it. The standing committee had voted
to restore this amount. The BAC decided to cut this amount again
(Councillors Soknacki, Sutherland, Moeser and Shiner voted for the cut).
NOW AT RISK! The Community Services Committee had recommended $160,000
for York before and after school programs that would provide support 600
kids. The BAC cut the $160,000.
AN UPSETTING REVERSAL! The original budget had recommended cuts of
$100,000 each to funding requests for Family Resource programs and
Special Needs Resource programs. Without this funding, there will be no
improvement to support access to child care services for children with
special needs and no improvement for access to family resource programs.
The standing committee had restored the $200,000. The BAC then turned
around and cut the $200,000.
NO FUNDING! The City had also pledged to increase child care spaces by
2,000 a year, which would cost $3 million. BAC agreed with the principle
but did not approve funding for it.
SMALL VICTORY, BUT NOT ENOUGH! The Communty Services Committee had
recommended funding $1 million worth of anti-youth violence programs.
The BAC turned around and decided to cut that amount down to $250,000.
An appeal for an additional $600,000 for anti-youth violence initiatives
from Parks and Recreation budget failed at BAC also.
NO FUNDING! Funds to create a Teen Web Zone website for the Toronto
Public Library ($342,000) and to expand Leading to Reading programs for
children ($150,000) also failed at BAC.
SHOW US THE MONEY! The Community Services Committee had planned to fund
a lot of these child care programs through surplus dollars generated by
dipping into the welfare stablization reserve (which has $80 million)
when the welfare caseload hit over 60,000. As a result, there is a
saving of $4.8 million. BAC supported this approach, but because they
have decided not to allocate that money to child care, where will it go?
Shelter, Housing & Support
DRASTIC CUT! The original budget proposed a drastic 75% cut ($2.6
million) to hostel services supporting homeless folk. This would mean
the loss of at least 27 staff who provide counselling, child care
services, pre-post natal support and housing referrals. Both the
standing committee and the BAC proposed to revisit the program if
province provides funding, but the $2.6 million is still cut.
SEEMS OUT OF DANGER! A proposed 50% cut ($150,000) to the Tenant Defense
Fund was reversed by the standing committee and supported by the BAC, so
the TDF seems out of danger for now.
MAY BE SAFE! A proposed 50% cut ($754,000) to the Hostel Redirect
Initiative, which helps homless people find housing, was reversed by the
standing committee, and by the BAC, so HRI appears safe for now.
Community and Grants
GRANTS STILL CUT! A proposed cut of $637,000 which would have covered
inflationary factors affecting the grants program is also still proposed
to go through.
NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS! Other proposals affecting grants, $100,000 needed
to support the emerging needs, and $350,000 to harmonize arts grants
also failed to secure BAC approval.
WINS AND LOSSES FOR COMMUNITY CENTRES! As for community centres,
requests from Scadding Court CC for an IT worker ($22,000) and from
Eastview Community Centre for a part time volunteer coordinator
($17,000) passed the BAC process. However, costs to relocate 519
Community Centre during renovations were cut.
SOME PROGRESS IN POOLS! In the school pools issue, some progress was
made. The standing committee had already proposed continuing to pay $3.1
million a year for the pools. BAC approved an additional $3.2 million
dollars, on condition that the school board pay the remainder of funds
to keep all 87 pools open.
PUBLIC LIBRARY CUTS! The Toronto Public Library is facing $1.4 million
in cuts. Half of this would cut acquisitions budgets and the other
$700,000 is unallocated. These "unallocated" cuts would most probably
mean cuts in Sunday openings, less staff, and fewer materials. The BAC
did not reverse any of the proposed cuts.
Environment
CYCLING STILL UNDERFUNDED! The Cycling Committee had requested $316,000
in 2002, though the official budget recommended only $108,000, or
$40,000 less than in 2001. At the standing committee and the BAC, the
$40,00 was restored, bringing the 2002 budget back up to the same level
as in 2001. However, the extra $168,000 needed to implement the bike
plan was not restored. The Cycling Committee had also requested $1.5
million for Cycling Infrastructure, but the official budget recommended
$710,000 instead. The standing committee had restored this amount to the
full $1.5 million. The BAC, however, cut that down to $970,000, so
$530,000 was cut from the request.
SAFE FOR NOW! The original budget had recommended eliminating
Environment days altogether. BAC turned this around and restored
$440,000 for Environment days in 2002.
MIXED VICTORY! Funds ($190,000) to organize 2002 Car Free Day had been
completely cut. BAC approved $70,000, but on the condition that the
money must come from the Toronto Atmosphere Fund.
TRAFFIC CALMING ELIMINATED! All funds for Traffic Calming ($750,000) had
been eliminated. After the standing committee and BAC deliberations,
Traffic Calming funds are still eliminated.
Public Health
WINS & LOSSES! The original budget had proposed $879,000 in cuts to services
for TB prevention, services to vulnerable seniors, and the
environmental plan. This money was put back into the Public Health
budget by the BAC. There remain some $500,000 in unallocated cuts,
however.
TTC
WHEEL TRANS STILL AT RISK! A proposed $1.97 million cut to WheelTrans services
would mean that more seniors and people with disabilities needing to use this
public transit services would be denied. The BAC decided that the TTC should
fully fund WheelTrans, but that no
additional funds would be added to the TTC budget. The TTC is already
anticipating a 15-cent fare increase and a $100 monthly pass to cover
its other funding shortfalls.
What now?
While it seems that some of the services and programs Toronto
communities need have been saved, or that other have been lost, nothing
is definite until the budget is officially approved in March. TorontoCAN
will continue to monitor the Budget proceedings and update you. However,
nothing beats citizens' presence at City Hall to keep politicians aware
that what we want is a fair budget that considers communities' needs
before the bottom line!
The Municipal Budget proceedings continue throughout February to be
finalized in early March. It's not too late to get involved and make
your voice heard at City Hall!
You CAN:
- Contact your City Councillor and tell her/him to save these services!
(to find out who s/he is, go to http://app.city.toronto.on.ca/im/council/councillors.jsp and type your
address and click on 'submit')
- Endorse the TorontoCAN campaign
(e-mail your endorsement to torontocan@cspc.toronto.on.ca)
- Go to City Hall to observe the deliberations, especially on February 18, 19,20 and 21. Councillors vote differently when they know we are
watching!
-Participate in rallies and events being planned or supported by TorontoCAN! (you will be notified by e-mail)
- Subscribe to the TorontoCAN mailing list by e-mailing torontocan@cspc.toronto.on.ca
For more information, please call Lee at 416-351-0095 x238