Matt ElliottCouncillor Bradford moves to move some capital dollars up to speed up the Main Square Community Centre project.
"Mayor Chow is using one-time reserve draws to paper over operating costs. The same operating costs that she has ballooned since taking office," says Bradford. "It's not that we've never used reserves — it's to the extent and what we are using them for."
Bradford calls Chow's budget "financial malpractice."
"This budget is mortgaging the city's future to make an election-year budget look better on paper today."
"I do have an announcement for everyone — it's raining!" says Councillor Fletcher, metaphorically. "We have somebody south of the border creating a lot of storms!"
She points to tariffs and the economic situation as reasons to prioritize affordability in this budget.
Before Council voted on the budget motions, Councillor Mike Colle declares a conflict of interest on any TTC-related portions and says he won't vote on those parts. His son Josh works for the TTC.
Councillor Stephen Holyday's motion to cancel the TTC's new fare capping program FAILS 3-21.
Holyday's motion to change TTC policy so kids under 12 have to pay fares FAILS 1-23.
Councillor James Pasternak's motion to delay funding for the new Wilson Ave shelter FAILS 5-20.
Councillor Bradford's motion to accelerate the Main Square Community Centre Redevelopment Design project CARRIES 25-0.
And that completes the debate on the mayor's budget. Unless Chow vetoes any of the amendments — and she won't — it'll be deemed adopted shortly.
But we're not done yet. There's still the not-so-small matter of approving the tax rates. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2026.CC38.1
On the tax rate item, Councillor Carroll moves an expected motion to increase the tax break for small businesses from 15% to 20%. The money will be offset by a larger increase to larger businesses in the commercial property tax class.
Carroll also moves for the City Manager to continue with his rolling review of programs to look for more savings. And for the feds to continue funding youth violence programs. And for a review of eligibility for the small biz tax class.
"We promised that we would work on paying the COVID bill, and then we would stabilize. And as a result, you have one of the most reasonable property tax increases anywhere in the GTHA. Others are not finished paying their COVID bill!" says budget chief Shelley Carroll.
"If you're worried about our reserves, I don't think the public should come away from watching this little TV show on YouTube without remembering we have almost $10 billion in reserve. Almost 10 billion dollars!" says Carroll.
Councillor Myers moves for a report as part of next year's budget on ways to improve the working relationship between the TTC and City Hall. He says that could include the city attaching KPIs to the operating subsidy, and the TTC formalizing requests for what they need to meet those KPIs.
The budget motion tracker has been updated with the vote results. https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/GqDUo/5/
Councillor Josh Matlow moves for the City Manager to start negotiations on getting the city a share of the HST. He doesn't offer a speech, though. I guess it speaks for itself.
Councillor Morley moves for reports on ways to improve drop-in sites for homeless people and options for providing better snow-clearing for seniors and people with disabilities.
Councillor Pasternak has FOUR motions. ("It was a late night," he says.)
1. Report on creating a "Major Gifts Office"
2. Accelerate design for Downsview Community Centre
3. Report on DVP/Gardiner negotiation status
4. "Vigorously" oppose $10 million cut to the federal Housing Accelerator Fund
Councillor Burnside moves to ask the TTC to consider increasing fares by ten cents, with the extra revenue going toward providing better service and expanding eligibility for the low-income Fair Pass.
Councillor Bradford moves to increase the tax break for small businesses to 25%. "I don't think small businesses want half measures. I think they deserve our whole-hearted support."
Councillor Bravo has a VERY interesting motion. She wants the police to report on how much the Toronto Police have saved via moves like the establishment of the community crisis service and the transfer of the crossing guard program from the cops to city hall.
Councillor Anthony Perruzza continues his annual tradition of asking the provincial government if Toronto can just keep the education portion of the property tax. Running up that hill.
Immediate loud GROANS from councillors as Councillor Stephen Holyday stands up and moves to bring back mechanical leaf collection.
Credit where it's due: "Guy who is skeptical of every single government service except the truck that drives around with a big vacuum to suck up the leaves" is a good, unique character for this drama.
Councillor Paula Fletcher moves for a report on a "long-term, sustainable future" for the Applegrove Community Centre.
Councillor Crisanti moves for a report on offering discounted off-peak and weekend rides for seniors using Wheel-Trans.
Time to vote! The end is night. But there are lots of motions, so council takes a five-minute recess to let the clerk get everything in order.
(The end is NIGH, I meant. But "the end is night" seems kind of poetic? Eh, I'll leave it.)
Councillor Brad Bradford's motion to increase the small biz property tax break to 25% (instead of 20%) FAILS 5-20.
Councillor Carroll's motion to increase the small biz property tax break to 20% CARRIES 23-2.
Councillor Matlow's motion requesting the City Manager start negotiations on getting Toronto a slice of HST revenue CARRIES 24-1.
Councillor Morley's motions to report on ways to improve conditions at drop-in sites and offer better snow clearing services for seniors CARRY 24-1.
Councillor Pasternak's motion to tell the federal government that the city "vigorously opposes" the $10 million cut to the Housing Accelerator Fund that came following council's refusal to legalize sixplexes citywide CARRIES 22-3.
Councillor Bravo's motion requesting the police explain the budget impacts of various moves in recent years to transfer services from the cops to city hall CARRIES 23-2.
Councillor Perruzza's motion requesting the province let the city keep the education portion of property tax revenue CARRIES 22-3.
Councillor Holyday's motion calling for the mayor to consider bringing back mechanical vacuum leaf collection FAILS 9-16. Getting closer.
Councillor Myers' motion to report on formalizing and strengthening the relationship between City Hall and the TTC CARRIES 24-0.
Councillor Burnside's motion requesting the TTC board consider a ten-cent fare increase, with the extra revenue going toward providing more service and expanding eligibility for the low-income fare pass, FAILS 3-20.
Councillor Crisanti's motion for a report on providing seniors with discounted Wheel-Trans rides during off-peak periods CARRIES 19-5.
The property tax rates for 2026, including a 2.2% overall residential increase, are APPROVED by council 21-4.
There was some confusion over what that vote was all about, so council opts for a re-do. On a re-vote, the 2026 property tax rates are APPROVED 19-5.
Budget recommendation to suspend the Toronto Parking Authority's income share agreement, so that all net parking income will now flow direct to City Hall, CARRIES 20-4.
Budget recommendation to request the TPA look at increasing parking rates for 2026 CARRIES 20-4.
Budget recommendation to expand a program offering air conditioners to low-income seniors CARRIES 23-1.
And that's it. The FINAL budget of the 2022-2026 council term is in the books. It's all downhill from here.
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