Budget public hearings to take place at Etobicoke Civic Centre on January 23.
For those who want to give an earful to City officials on the proposed budget that will raise taxes 10.5 per cent.
The public hearings here will take place on January 23 at the Council Chamber of Etobicoke Civic Centre, at 399 The Wast Mall.
The hearings will also take place by video conference and will start at 1:30 p.m. and run until 4:30 p.m. Another meeting will take place at 6 p.m.
You can register to speak to the Budget Subcommittee by emailing buc@toronto.ca or calling 416-392-4666.
Mayor Olivia Chow and Budget Chief Shelley Carroll with proposed budget 2024.
Individuals may only make one presentation at meetings that will also take place at Toronto City Hall, North York and Scarborough Civic Centres.
You are asked to register to speak by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, January 19. Registered public speakers will be provided with instructions on how to appear at the Subcommittee meeting.
The meeting will be streamed live online at toronto.ca/council.
City of Toronto Budget Chief Shelley Carroll has said that council has a $1.8 billion deficit and is looking at a property tax hike of nine per cent for its 2024 budget.
Toronto City Council working on the 2024 budget to be voted on February 14.
The budget also includes an additional 1.5 per cent increase to the city building fund, which is a levy that supports critical projects such as transit and housing, bringing the hike to 10.5 per cent.
Another 6 per cent is planned on top of that if the federal government does not cough up $250 million to provide more shelter beds nightly for refugees and asylum claimants. A decision on that levy will be made on February 26.
City financial staff were able to find over $600 million in cost savings for the 2024 budget.
Mayor Olivia Chow will bring forward the final budget to City Council on February 14 for a vote.
The budget proposes $182 million for shelter and housing; like 5,000 new beds for refugee claimants and a winter warming plan: $20 million for community initiatives as direct care for long-term care homes and funds for the Toronto Public Library.
Some $30 million is slated for transit services and security and implementation emission performing standards and another $19 million for community safety like expanding the Toronto Crisis Service and staffing plan for Toronto Fire and paramedic services.