Dear Friends,
The City Manager and CFO released documents today further showing the success of my administration in saving money for the taxpayers of Toronto. We have helped keep over $1.1 billion in the pockets of the Toronto taxpayer.
The Miller administration was heavily reliant on one-time provincial funding. This is not a responsible way to run a business, and it is not the way we want to run our City. We need to know that we have the tools in hand to keep our City balanced, sustainable, and affordable.
In 2009 alone, the graph released by the CFO's office shows over $200 million in unsustainable, one-time provincial funding. Funding which is no longer provided, and without the efficiencies found, would have forced a higher tax burden.
My administration has seen almost $900 million in reductions and collective agreements – that's nearly $350 million more than the previous administration.
Over the last 4 years, we have seen TTC fare increases that are, on average, half that of the previous administration.
Residential tax increases are at an average of 1.7 % - again, less than half that of the previous administration of 3.6%
The overall average tax increase in our City has been half the rate of inflation, at 1.1% - compared to 2.53% over the Miller administration.
Draws on operating surpluses and reserves have decreased from $834 million to only $571 million.
My administration will continue to push for long term, sustainable funding from the Provincial government, through cost uploading, restoring funding for transit operating costs, and a share of the HST.
The new documents confirm that we have found savings and efficiencies of nearly $940 million, and when combined with the Vehicle Registration Tax being eliminated, that is over $1.1 billion of the hard earned money of Toronto taxpayers that has been saved.