City Council approves 2018 budget

Toronto City Council has approved a 2018 tax-supported operating budget of $11.12 billion and a 10-year capital budget and plan of $25.98 billion. The 2018 budgets ensure that the city maintains or improves all service levels and makes unprecedented investments in social infrastructure and housing while keeping property taxes affordable.

The budget provides new funding for transit, including hop-on, hop-off transfers on the TTC and funding for the Transit Fare Equity program so that low-income residents will be able to use public transit. This budget also provides funding for increased shelter beds and social housing repairs to prevent the permanent closure of Toronto Community Housing units.

Overall, the 2018 budget tax increase after assessment growth is 1.47 per cent, with a 2.1 per cent increase for residential properties, a 1.05 per cent increase for commercial properties and a 0.70 per cent for industrial properties in support of council’s tax policy to enhance the city’s business climate.

Residents will pay an additional 0.5 per cent for the City Building Fund, which supports important infrastructure projects such as transit. With the city’s overall strategy to enhance Toronto’s business climate and reassessment impact, there will be an additional increase of 0.31 per cent for residential properties, bringing the total municipal tax increase to 2.91 per cent. The average house assessed at $624,418 will attract an additional $82 in municipal property taxes for a total of $2,907 for 2018.

The 2018 Operating Budget maintains all current programs and services and provides funding for new and enhanced services, including:

Implementation of congestion-fighting measures such as traffic enforcement officers.
Funding to relieve overcrowding on TTC bus routes.
Improving access to recreation programs by increasing the number of recreation spaces by 10,000 and accelerating an additional 10,000 spaces.
The addition 1,515 childcare subsidies, support for the new Child and Family Centres Program and other expansion programs.
Accelerating implementation of the prioritized Toronto Climate Change Action Plan strategies.
In response to increased shelter demand, funding for 700 winter respite shelter beds; 35 additional positions to provide operational support and oversight for the expansion of the shelter system; and the operation of three new permanent shelter sites.
Implementing TTC’s recommended two-hour time-based transfer policy on Presto.

More information about the city’s budget is available at www.toronto.ca/budget.

Spring tree plantings

This year, as part of the city’s goal to achieve a 40 per cent tree canopy and in an effort to replace the ash trees lost to the emerald ash borer, Urban Forestry is planning to implement several naturalization plantings within Charlottetown Park. This will include the planting of approximately 1,000 native tree and shrub species this spring. Details and a copy of the planting plan can be viewed on my website at: jimhart.ca

Upcoming dates

This year we will be holding the annual Community Clean-Up Day and our Ward 44 Environment Day on Saturday, April 21.

Further details will be posted at jimhart.ca
I can be reached 416-392-1373 or councillor_hart@toronto.ca.