Transit, job growth and homelessness top Tory’s budget priorities
Posted January 14, 2015 10:11 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The start of the new year means the start of budget debates at Toronto City Hall.
Mayor John Tory said his top budget priorities are transit, helping the homeless, and encouraging job growth.
“Obviously public transit is a huge priority,” he said.
Tory also insists he is standing firm on keeping any property tax increase at or below the level of inflation.
But some city councillors say that simple cannot be done.
“There are voices telling people ‘you can have lower taxes and better services.’ The truth is you can’t,” Coun. Gord Perks said. “There’s no having that cake and eating it too.”
Perks says keeping tax increases below inflation has put the city behind by millions over the years.
“If you’re waiting for a streetcar in the cold, if you can’t get daycare for your kids – that’s because of this at or below inflation policy,” he said.
The budget will be introduced at City Hall on Jan. 20.
