[PinkLucy]

And where is that surplus coming from? One-time cost savings re labour costs and the land transfer tax bringing in more than expected-- you know, that tax Ford wants to cut .... also from increased TTC ridership. I'm sure the virtual lack of a need for snow removal didn't hurt either. So next year, there won't be the savings re labour costs, and if we get a bad winter, there won't be savings from snow removal, and if the land transfer tax is reduced or scrapped as Ford promised, that revenue is gone. That doesn't sound like getting finances back on track to me. Sounds more like a couple of lucky breaks.

 

[jn_12]

Meanwhile Toronto has posted a surplus in the 70-90million dollar range, haters can focus on his weight, voters will focus on his ability to finally get city finances back on track.

You and those voters might need a reality check.

and in terms of what they're identically comprised of:

 

[Lenser]

Surpluses, or lack thereof, amount to a shallow shell game. Ford's surplus is very likely in the same category as his original and lofty promises to cut the waste and "find efficiencies."

Accounting: modern day smoke and mirrors.

 

[k10ery]

Is he back on a diet again?

Toronto Star: Mayor Rob Ford now says he’s not quitting weight loss challenge

One of the charming things about Rob is his tendency to compare people to animals. Today the media are piranhas. Before, cyclists were swimming with sharks, a fellow councillor was a weasel, all of council were behaving like dogs. And most famously an entire continent of people work like dogs. Of all the ways to be rude, why does he keep picking this one, I wonder?

 

[PinkLucy]

Let me get this straight. He creates a media event and then gets upset when the media shows up and treats it like a media event. Is this man even capable of rational thought?

 

[Ice_Burn]

As much as I dislike her opinions on just about everything, this goes to show what a Herculean effort it must've been for Adrienne Batra to reign in this rampaging elephant during the campaign and until she resigned.

This election should be interesting if he doesn't have Batra to play defence and Kouvalis on offense.

 

[Riverdale Rink Rat]

I also liked the Del Grande quote at the end of the G&M article -- we can't spend money, because we've got to fix the Gardiner first... after musing about cutting the land transfer tax. The guy's supposed to be an ACCOUNTANT. So -- I can cut taxes, but then I'll have less revenue, which I can't spend because I have to earmark it for increased spending, so don't y'all start thinking of ways to spend money. Seriously?

Let's have two adult debates, shall we? (1) What's the appropriate level of taxation? (2) On what should we spend those revenues, and in what proportion? The amount of bombast (from all sides) drives me nuts, but Ford and his team take it to new levels of hysteria.

 

[dt_toronto_geek]

I don't see what people are upset about. This is perfectly normal behaviour . . . for a thirteen year old.

“He just kept buggin’ me and buggin’ me and buggin’ me,†he told John Tory.

I just keep shaking my head in disbelief. How did he ever make it this far in life? Somehow he reminds me of an Edith Massey type charactor in "Pink Flamingos", sitting in a crib all day eating and obsessing about eggs all day.

 

[TonyV]

... Somehow he reminds me of an Edith Massey type charactor in "Pink Flamingos", sitting in a crib all day eating and obsessing about eggs all day.

That's it! Edith Massey ("The Egg Lady") for mayor. She could unseat Ford.

 

[Glen]

You mean a multi-million 'surplus' that even Miller can pull? Impressive, indeed.

AoD

would you be able to tell me what year Miller had a 'surplus' greater than his utilization of reserve funds?

 

[jje1000]

Meanwhile Toronto has posted a surplus in the 70-90million dollar range, haters can focus on his weight, voters will focus on his ability to finally get city finances back on track.

The only rebuttal is surprisingly found in the comments section of a newspaper.

Hypothetical situation.

Miller announces a surplus, thanks to higher-than-expected revenue from the LRT, low fuel prices, a snowless winter, labour cost savings and other windfalls: "Fraud! Flim-flammery! Any surplus is a rape of the taxpayer's pocket! Just more money to throw at socialist programs!"

Ford announces a surplus, thanks to higher-than-expected revenue from the LRT, low fuel prices, a snowless winter, labour cost savings and other windfalls: "Brilliant! Well done! Exactly the kind of smart thinking we need! Add 10 more feet to the statue we'll build in his honour!"

Plus ca change....

Ford has done diddly-squat to generate the surplus. Breakdown of the 70-90-million surplus.
- Savings from contracts with the city's unionized inside and outside workers are estimated at $27.7-million for the year- due to vacated positions not being refilled (Hiring freeze started by Miller).
- $66-million from the Land Transfer Tax.
- Stable fuel costs.
- Practically no winter.

What do ya say 'about the the $700 million shortfall figure paraded around by Ford?

would you be able to tell me what year Miller had a 'surplus' greater than his utilization of reserve funds?

Pretty sure Ford's dipped into the cookie jar before.

 

[cdr108]

Meanwhile Toronto has posted a surplus in the 70-90million dollar range, haters can focus on his weight, voters will focus on his ability to finally get city finances back on track.

Ford has done diddly-squat to generate the surplus. Breakdown of the 70-90-million surplus.
- Savings from contracts with the city's unionized inside and outside workers are estimated at $27.7-million for the year- due to vacated positions not being refilled (Hiring freeze started by Miller).
- $66-million from the Land Transfer Tax.
- Stable fuel costs.
- Practically no winter.

surplus figures of $70-90 million have been thrown around ... i mostly hear $70 million.
what is evident is that whatever figure it is, $66 million came from the Land Transfer Tax that RF is soooo opposed to and wanted to scrap ... but of course, he's backtracking on that election promise now

 

[GenerationW]

Pretty sure Ford's dipped into the cookie jar before.

Before 2011??

 

[Juan_Lennon416]

Only 174 taxpayers donated extra to Toronto

http://www.torontosun.com/2012/05/30/only-174-taxpayers-donated-extra-to-toronto


This was interesting because it is a far cry from the 1000s of Torontonians who said they would gladly pay higher taxes to prevent Mayor Ford's service cuts. I really want to know if the majority of people in this city seriously want to pay higher taxes?

 

[BobBob]

Gladly paying higher taxes is totally different from gladly donating extra.

Higher taxes means that everyone contributes more, so we can ideally have better stuff.
Donating means that you are paying more so others can ultimately pay less.