City Hall revs up for annual budget deputation derby
The Week at Toronto City Hall for the week of January 22 through January 26, 2024, featuring over 100 budget deputations, police horses, a NIMBY vibe check in the Annex, and a chart of salaries
It’s been a week of budget battles at City Hall, as Mayor Olivia Chow’s advocacy for federal funding for refugees in the shelter system has Liberal MPs crying foul. The intergovernmental tension is building. While we wait for the explosive peak, let’s take a peek at what’s coming next week at Toronto City Hall.
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This issue of City Hall Watcher’s The Week at Toronto City Hall is sponsored by:
Monday, January 22
💸🌳 A Budget Subcommittee meets at City Hall at 9:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.👀 Watch Live: Committee Room 1, YouTube Livestream💸🌳 Another Budget Subcommittee meets at Scarborough Civic Centre at 1:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.👀 Watch Live: Scarborough Civic Centre Council Chamber, YouTube LivestreamWe’ll hear the people sing. Maybe even some songs of angry men.
Four localized offshoots of the Budget Committee will meet on Monday and Tuesday to hear deputations directly from the public. If you want to give your two cents on the $17 billion budget, now’s the time.
But you may find it hard to get a spot. There are a lot of people lining up to speak. As of Wednesday, January 17 — a full six days before the meeting — the City’s budget page indicated that all speaking slots at the City Hall session were full.
Because they’ve blocked off nine hours for the meeting, and deputations are generally limited to five minutes, the math says more than 100 people are likely registered to speak just at the downtown session. Slots remain available in Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough, though.
Let’s give the deputants some data. There have been some critics of the budget suggesting that staff salaries are a potential area where City Hall could find savings. To investigate the truth of that claim, I compiled the “Salaries & Benefits” and “Approved Positions” lines in the departmental Budget Notes and did some division.
You can view the list of 49 included divisions here.
The Chief Information Security Office is a priority for City Hall, given various struggles with ransomware. Its employees have the highest average salaries in the building, but the office has had some trouble spending its budget. For 2023, the division is projected to come in about $8 million below its $38 million budget.
CreateTO, the City’s real estate agency, takes second place. During my year-end interview with Mayor Olivia Chow, she mentioned an upcoming report that will clarify the roles and responsibilities of the City’s various housing offices — CreateTO, the Housing Secretariat, and TCHC — with an eye toward consolidation. Change could be afoot.
The Toronto Police have the highest increase in positions in the budget, at 408. But police reps told the Budget Committee yesterday that their plans to hire 300 net new officers would be threatened if they don’t get the additional $12 million in budget dollars approved by their board, but not included in the staff-recommended budget.
On the other side, the lowest average wage at a City division, per the proposed 2024 operating budget, is Parks, Forestry & Recreation, where the average wage is about $77,000. Other divisions or agencies with an average below $100,000 include the library, Transportation Services, Long-Term Care, and Children’s Services.
⁉️ Let me know if you notice anything interesting in the data. Drop a comment below or email me.
Tuesday, January 23
💸🌳 Yet Another Budget Subcommittee meets at Etobicoke Civic Centre at 1:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.👀 Watch Live: Etobicoke Council Chamber, YouTube Livestream💸🌳 A Final Budget Subcommittee meets at North York Civic Centre at 1:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.👀 Watch Live: North York Civic Centre Council Chamber, YouTube LivestreamThe budget deputations continue in Etobicoke and North York.
Some communications posted so far that might give a clue to the tenor of some of the deputations:
Michael Brooks, CEO of RealPAC — an organization representing Canada’s largest commercial real estate companies — has sent a letter to express concerns about a commercial parking levy. A levy on parking isn’t included in this year’s budget, but revenue is pencilled it for next year. Brooks says it’ll be “inefficient,
administratively burdensome and counterproductive to overall economic growth and stability.”
The Fairbnb Canada Network has let the Budget Committee know about federal funds available to crack down on landlords flouting short-term rental regulations.
Pauline Larsen of the Downtown Yonge BIA wants to ensure the budget has enough money for community safety and the police. She notes that 24% of business owners in the area report being victims of theft in the last year, and 11% report being victims of violent crime.
A report from The Corner Drop-in Centre compiles the opinions of 34 people who have experienced homelessness and/or poverty. One top concern: “Shelters do not feel safe and are inaccessible to a number of people. People want more shelter beds, more spaces for couples and more privacy with doors that lock and lockers.”
Beck Taxi wants more funding for enforcement of drivers using platforms like Uber and Lyft.
The group representing City Hall’s non-union employees notes that salaries have been frozen for two years, which is really tough in a high-inflation environment like, you know, the one we’ve been living in. As you’d expect, there’s a lot of vacancies:
In addition, the City continues to have difficulty filling vacant positions. In 2022, over 1,000 (16%) of the Council approved 6,900 Council approved non-union FTEs remain vacant. This continues to put pressure on non-union employees to do the work of others.
The Amalgamated Transit Union has an intriguing idea: an apprenticeship program that’ll help train young people to work at the TTC, replacing the high number of workers set to retire in the coming years. There’s an anti-poverty component, as well. “The City’s program should be tied directly to high schools and under-resourced/high-risk communities by linking them directly to registered apprenticeship opportunities in the skilled trades within the TTC leading to long-term careers,” writes ATU President Marvin Alfred.
Previously, in City Hall Watcher:
For paid subscribers to City Hall Watcher, this week’s issue has:
Comments from Budget Chief Councillor Shelley Carroll on this year’s budget process, and critics who say the City hasn’t done enough to find savings.
Analysis of revenue changes in the budget — land transfer taxes and gambling revenue are down, and Airbnb taxes are up.
A history of property tax increases, all the way back to amalgamation.
Next week:
Guest contributor Damien Moule on the ridiculously high cost of building stuff in Toronto.
Subscribe now to get instant access to the City Hall Watcher archives and all future subscriber-exclusive, ad-free Monday issues.
Wednesday, January 24
🌳 The Toronto & East York Community Council meets at City Hall at 9:30 a.m.👀 Watch Live: Committee Room 1, YouTube Livestream
ANNEX EXPECTATIONS: In what could provide a pretty good vibe check on the whole YIMBY versus NIMBY thing, the Community Council for Toronto & East York will consider an application to build a 35-storey rental building with 33 rental replacement units and 332 new condos at 40 Walmer Road. It’s to be located about 250 metres from Spadina subway station, right in the heart of the Annex neighbourhood.
Planning staff recommend refusal, noting concerns about height, the closeness to existing buildings, the new shadows that the tall building will cast, and wind impacts.
A thread from Jeffrey Sabiston last month documented a community meeting about the project, which features a surprise cameo appearance from former MPP Greg Sorbara, who is concerned about the project’s impact on local traffic and the ability for guests to find parking during birthday parties.
AND ALSO:
“Dream Avenue” is the proposed name for a laneway near St. Clair and Vaughan.
Planning staff recommend giving a high-five of approval for modifications to the Palace Arms Hotel that’ll see a 14-storey building grafted on top.
Cyclists will be concerned about a proposed months-long construction closure near Dufferin & Bloor to build a tunnel between a new development and Dufferin Station. The plan for cyclists using the Bloor bike lanes is what Toronto cyclists have come to expect: a sign telling them to merge with traffic.
Speaking of road closures, the Honda Indy is looking to zoom back into the City in 2024.
Metrolinx has provided some details on Ontario Line construction activities of late.
🌳 The North York Community Council meets at North York Civic Centre at 9:30 a.m.👀 Watch Live: North York Civic Centre, YouTube LivestreamCUL DE SACKED: After residents expressed concerns about cars parking — and looking as if they are “transacting” (Trading Pokemon cards, maybe?) — on a cul-de-sac at the end of Blue Ridge Road in North York, staff are continuing to assess the impacts of blocking off the section of road. It will be closed for a while for construction, so the report says this is a great opportunity to see whether a permanent closure is a good idea.
AND ALSO:
Easton’s Group is looking for approval to demolish a bunch of houses on Bayview Avenue to build a new 259-unit project.
Thursday, January 25
🚇 The TTC Board meets at City Hall at 10 a.m.👀 Watch Live: Committee Room 2, YouTube Livestream The agenda has not yet been published as of press time. I’ll have details in Monday’s issue of City Hall Watcher.
Friday, January 26
💸 The Budget Committee meets at City Hall at 9:30 a.m.👀 Watch Live: Committee Room 1, YouTube Livestream The Budget Committee will wrap up their work on the budget. Mayor Olivia Chow will then consider any suggested changes for inclusion in her official budget proposal on Thursday, February 1.
Budget Committee members have requested several briefing notes that should be published over the next week. Some biggies:
Will the horses still ride? Budget Chief Councillor Shelley Carroll has moved for a report on the cost of the mounted unit, which currently lists 15 horses under their command. They all have names, like Chief Blair (after Bill Blair), Saunders (presumably after Mark Saunders) and Picard (hoping it’s a Star Trek thing.) The Police have proposed a $5.9 million budget for the horses in 2024. They also have a cat, named Harold. Not clear how much of the budget goes to the cat.
Carroll is also looking for updated costs on the police’s “24 Shades of Blue” podcast series, which published its most recent episode yesterday, and the cost of communications consulting.
Councillor Gord Perks would like a report on the poverty reduction program spending over the last five years.
Caroll would like “a briefing note on the money that the City of Toronto spends on services that are extensions of Provincial and Federal responsibilities and how they have shifted with the New Deal.”
Caroll is also asking for a briefing note of costs related to the dedicated busway that is supposed to replace the Scarborough RT while subway construction continues. The cost of the busway is currently not included in the 2024 capital plan.
Budget briefing notes will be posted on the City’s budget page as they become available.
The Week After Next
The Planning & Housing Committee meets on Monday, January 29.
Mayor Olivia Chow’s Executive Committee meets on Tuesday, January 30.
Chow will officially unveil her version of the budget on Thursday, February 1.
The Far-Flung Future
Council’s next regular meeting kicks off on Tuesday, February 6. Most non-budget items covered above will be up for final approval at that meeting.
A special Council meeting to consider the 2024 budget is set for Valentine’s Day — February 14. Write a love song.
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1. If things are so bad with the 1.1 billion TPS, why are they only asking for $20 million. Seriously they make it sound like the city is burning to the ground. Even the Association request is barely a rounding error in the budget?
2. Outcomes. Didnt we give them an extra 20 million last year? And things got
3. Hiring? How many new officers of the ones they expected to hire did they actually hire?
4. Staffing. For all the focus on administrative bloat at colleges and universities, someone must be asking similar questions of the Police Services right? How has the balance of office staff versus uniformed staff (i dont know the right words) changed over time?