City of Toronto staff are proposing a 1.95 per cent property tax hike for next year but warn that the city’s return to fiscal health hinges on the police service freezing its budget.
City Manager Joe Pennachetti unveiled a proposed 2013 operating budget Thursday that would wipe out the annual predicted funding shortfall — but only if police Chief Bill Blair abandons his fight for more cash.
Otherwise, the city will have to find $21 million in cuts or new revenue to balance the books, Pennachetti said. He repeating noted that the city’s financial turnaround — the 2013 shortfall was originally forecast at $465 million — hinges on police joining other departments in freezing their budget.
In a brewing showdown, Blair has told the Rob Ford administration that a freeze is really $21.3 million in cuts because of rising costs. That translates, he warned, to a reduction of 137 officers and 32 civilians to keep the budget at this year’s $927.8 million.
Earlier this week, budget chief Councillor Mike Del Grande was put on the police services board in a move widely seen as an attempt to force the police service to cut costs.
The city’s proposed tax hike translates into a $48 hike on an average Toronto home.
Original Article
Source: the star
Author: David Rider Paul Moloney
City Manager Joe Pennachetti unveiled a proposed 2013 operating budget Thursday that would wipe out the annual predicted funding shortfall — but only if police Chief Bill Blair abandons his fight for more cash.
Otherwise, the city will have to find $21 million in cuts or new revenue to balance the books, Pennachetti said. He repeating noted that the city’s financial turnaround — the 2013 shortfall was originally forecast at $465 million — hinges on police joining other departments in freezing their budget.
In a brewing showdown, Blair has told the Rob Ford administration that a freeze is really $21.3 million in cuts because of rising costs. That translates, he warned, to a reduction of 137 officers and 32 civilians to keep the budget at this year’s $927.8 million.
Earlier this week, budget chief Councillor Mike Del Grande was put on the police services board in a move widely seen as an attempt to force the police service to cut costs.
The city’s proposed tax hike translates into a $48 hike on an average Toronto home.
Original Article
Source: the star
Author: David Rider Paul Moloney
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