TORONTO, Ont. - The most controversial budget in the city's history has gone before the budget committee for debate, Monday, as they put the final touches on a financial blueprint which will include $88 million in service cuts and increases in user fees, as part of $350 million in savings for 2012.
The committee is holding firm on a demand that the Toronto library system cut a full 10 per cent from its budget, but it did not come without some angry debate. It has already cut costs by 5.9 per cent, and reducing hours is the only way to find the remaining 4.1 per cent.
Councillor Janet Davis said the cuts would be a major blow.
"That is the equivalent of closing eight and a half library branches," she said.
Many councillors, including Adam Vaughan, accused the budget committee of pushing through the mayor's "right wing agenda."
"This budget is about the radical agenda to shut down service at any cost. When people as what is a radical conservative agenda, that is it," said Vaughan.
Councillor Gord Perks summed up the library cuts as a "radical conservative attack on the very fiber of what makes Toronto a great place to live."
However, budget chief Mike Del Grande argued that library literacy and computer programs match what is taught in Toronto schools.
"And then we wonder why the taxpayer's dollar doesn't go far enough - because everybody is duplicating each other," he said. "Nobody wants to take stock of that, it's all woe is me, woe is me, woe is me."
Earlier Monday, a group of parents and their children dressed in swim gear attended the meeting, concerned about possible pool closures. Councilor Mike Layton was also in attendance, and joined in a sing-along started by parents and kids.
Holding an inflatable pool tube, Zoey, 8, said she's worried about losing her swim program, "because I like swimming at my school."
Meanwhile, Phoebe, 6, said she would miss "going underwater. I can hold my breath for 20 seconds."
Mother Brix told 680News she's also concerned about the proposed closure of seven community pools.
"Some schools like ours, the Hillcrest community pool, there's no outdoor space, no big fields, so where are the kids going to make up their phys-ed? In the pool. Why close this pool?" she asked.
"We're just trying to keep it in front of the budget committee. We're worried that there are a lot of issues on the table, and we don't want them to forget that the pools are important," added Julie Dabrusin, a mother of two daughters who are in swim programs.
"This is a resource. A pool should be a money earner. It would be foolish if they're trying to find efficiencies to walk away from the pools."
Meanwhile, another drama will be played out behind closed doors Monday as well when a provincial conciliator sits down with union and city negotiators in an attempt to bridge the two into a collective agreement, in a bid to prevent an outside workers' strike or lockout.