Waiting for answers from Toronto council
Mayor David Miller continues to push for more money from senior governments to balance current budgets and allow city growth. While he admits there is a money problem, he focuses on a solution outside the city's domain. His reticence to be straightforward and examine comprehensively and publicly the nature of the expenses and financial responsibilities Toronto taxpayers must cover through municipal levies has too much political "spin" when Torontonians have questions to ask.
This year's executive committee-restricted discussion approach does not bode well for future budgets given the apparent vision differences with senior finance staff. There is more to the story than provincial downloading.
We could ask:
1. How did Toronto accumulate $1 billion-plus surplus in the past? Was it from budget dollars not spent on planned projects? Or from "rainy day" money set aside? Were the Metro cities operating with a net surplus?
2. How much of the current budget increase is due to salary and benefit increases for city employees? City negotiators have curtailed strike action and work slowdowns, but at what cost? How does city staffing (performance, costs) compare to other large cities?
3. How much of the total budget could be classified as "social assistance"? How does this compare to other large-city administrations? Toronto is big in social housing and daycare. Should city taxpayers cover any part of such a social burden? How much of the total cost of being "socially progressive" is covered by Queen's Park and Ottawa?
4. Given a massive shortfall projection next year, what decisions can be made quickly to separate what we can/should pay for and what others should be responsible for?
5. Does the city have the right approach to putting budgets and business plans together? Should there be a separate levy for TTC, social assistance programming, public health and policing as there is for education? The current billing arrangement for city services covers up what the city taxpayer is responsible for.
6. What is the bare bones level of expenditure that the city can operate on and maintain its infrastructure?
Can we expect answers?
Brian Ralph
