[generalcanada]

That’s all? Way to dismiss everyone’s thoughts on the matter.

the fact that "downtown elites" is still a term used proves me right

 

[DSCToronto]

She is writing her own re-election slogan: "Olivia Chow - Doing less with more..." I am frustrated as I don't realistically feel like the city will run better at the end of next year than it did now. Its an almost 7% increase on top of a 9.5% increase last year - that compounds to a 17% increase in two years.

From my perspective the City is doing better and taxes in Toronto were kept artificially low for far too long. Of course, I think some parts of the budget (the police in particular) are bloated but others (upkeep of parks and buildings and 'small things' like street sweeping) get too little. Overall, I think Chow is a pretty good mayor - certainly FAR better than the sanctimonious Tory or the crazy Ford.

 

[Northern Light]

She is writing her own re-election slogan: "Olivia Chow - Doing less with more..."

Less?

- A drastic increase in Library hours with every branch to be open Sunday.

- A modest expansion of Community Centre hours.

- The largest TTC Service increase in years.

- More police

- Expanded outdoor swim season

- Expanded outdoor pool hours (2 additional hours daily in July/August)

****

I' ve been critical of some of the budget choices in here, the Mayor and her team don't get a free pass........... but the idea that we're getting nothing is wholly unreasonable.

I am frustrated as I don't realistically feel like the city will run better at the end of next year than it did now. Its an almost 7% increase on top of a 9.5% increase last year - that compounds to a 17% increase in two years.

Durham Region is 7.5% this year. It was 7.4% last year, for a cumulative total of ~15%

Mississauga is 8.8% this year, it was 4.9% last year for nearly 14%.

I think its important to realize this is not the Mayor delivering increases that are outlandishly high relative to peer Cities/Regions.

Additionally, the City's rate after this increase will be broadly in line with or slightly below the area average.

 

[DSCToronto]

Ok.....where to start?

I think I'll try to take this clumps and update through the evening.

Lets Start with Parks (ie. not community centres, the ferry terminal etc.)

General:

Parks Washrooms

3 additional washrooms to be year-round this year, 156 total, the target is 162 for 2026 or +6 from year end 2025.

****

Specific projects of interest to UT'ers:

For @DSCToronto

David Crombie Park:

Read first year as 2025 (from left)

View attachment 625480

**

Market Lane Park - Remediation is budgeted for this year.

Construction, this year and next:

View attachment 625481

**

I don't know who wants to claim the Corktown Off-Leash area............but I have to see the render for this baby:

View attachment 625482

Seriously? Base is mulch, a fence, 2 benches, and a doggy drinking fountain. I can get that done for under 200k no problem.......... So how did we get to a nearly 1.8M budget here? I mean...lighting ok.....maybe add 200k.....

Now what? Is there a Doggy waterpark? A mister? A playground? A fitness set? LOL

**

Mouth of the Creek Park is substantially deferred.........again....:

View attachment 625483

***

We have a park for @AHK

View attachment 625484

And

View attachment 625485

***

This is @interchange42 's neck of the woods:

View attachment 625486

^^^ 2027/2028

Grand Avenue Park Expansion also has money, drips and drabs flowing over the next several years:

View attachment 625489

View attachment 625490

I love how there are funds for phases 1 and 3 but not 2.....

***

There is some money for fixing College Park, but not til 2026:

View attachment 625487

****

Lots more, but I'll leave it there for now and come back w/Community Centre Info, and operating budget later.

Market Lane Park has a schedule of:

• Winter 2025: Hire a construction team
• Spring/Summer 2025: Construction starts
• Spring 2026: Construction complete, park reopens

David Crombie Park has a schedule of:

• Early 2025: Hire a construction team
• Spring 2025: Construction for park and cycle track starts
• Late 2025: Construction for cycle track complete
• Spring 2026 to Fall 2027: Construction for park improvements continues
• Fall 2027: Construction for park improvements complete

In neither case has a construction firm been selected, but (if I remember right) both have been advertised.

 

[generalcanada]

Less?

- A drastic increase in Library hours with every branch to be open Sunday.

- A modest expansion of Community Centre hours.

- The largest TTC Service increase in years.

- More police

- Expanded outdoor swim season

- Expanded outdoor pool hours (2 additional hours daily in July/August)

****

I' ve been critical of some of the budget choices in here, the Mayor and her team don't get a free pass........... but the idea that we're getting nothing is wholly unreasonable.



Durham Region is 7.5% this year. It was 7.4% last year, for a cumulative total of ~15%

Mississauga is 8.8% this year, it was 4.9% last year for nearly 14%.

I think its important to realize this is not the Mayor delivering increases that are outlandishly high relative to peer Cities/Regions.

Additionally, the City's rate after this increase will be broadly in line with or slightly below the area average.

Thanks for digging into the numbers from the suburbs.
This is why I think its just a hate on toronto thing

 

[guavadelic]

She is writing her own re-election slogan: "Olivia Chow - Doing less with more..." I am frustrated as I don't realistically feel like the city will run better at the end of next year than it did now. Its an almost 7% increase on top of a 9.5% increase last year - that compounds to a 17% increase in two years.

Taxes were kept low for 14 years so there will be some sticker shock initially to catch up and balance things.
This is a much better option than continuing the slow decay of the city that has been going on for the last decade and a half.

 

[DSCToronto]

This is a VERY interesting development! SEE: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/a-...cle_8300406c-d284-11ef-adb3-67ce836460bc.html

In a tight vote that split the board down the middle, city councillor Shelley Carroll has been elected chair of the Toronto police board — a powerful position that involves approving the cop budget and hiring the police chief.
”I really think that I can offer the board a bold step forward,” Carroll said at a Tuesday morning meeting inside Toronto police headquarters, after being nominated for the role by fellow councillor Lily Cheng.
“I think right now we are at a critical point.”
Carroll, a longtime city councillor who has also served as chair of the city’s budget committee, won the position 4-3, unseating Ann Morgan, a former Crown prosecutor who had held the chair position for the last two years.

Morgan’s vice-chair, Kostakis, was also unseated Tuesday and replaced by Brillinger in a vote that replicated the split between city and provincial appointees.

 

[evandyk]

Is it positive for a Toronto city councillor, which is already a full-time job, to take on another $90K/year job? How many hours does the Chair of the Police Services Board require to fulfil it diligently? If it can be easily accommodated within a city councillor's free time, why does it pay like a full-time job?

LOL. If the TPA didn't like a former Crown Prosecutor at the head of the Board, they're going to love Sherry Carroll!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1857831829736157628

 

[Dan416]

Is it positive for a Toronto city councillor, which is already a full-time job, to take on another $90K/year job? How many hours does the Chair of the Police Services Board require to fulfil it diligently? If it can be easily accommodated within a city councillor's free time, why does it pay like a full-time job?

LOL. If the TPA didn't like a former Crown Prosecutor at the head of the Board, they're going to love Sherry Carroll!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1857831829736157628

Fuck the TPA. I literally could not care less what their opinion is on anything after their anti-Trudeau rant. Defund Toronto Police while we're at it since they're useless anyway. Peel Police want a 23% budget increase...for what? Ugh. Awful police organizations.