Make your voice heard
[attach]4422[/attach]Make your voice count!
With a looming budget shortfall for 2012, Mayor Rob Ford asked city staff to undertake a core service review to help determine which services will continue to be offered to residents in our community and across the city. Will recreation services or parks maintenance be cut back? Should libraries or community centres reduce hours or close? Should the city continue to fund environmental initiatives, sidewalk snow removal or community services? Should city assets be privatized or services contracted out?
You can make your voice heard on these and other important questions. You can influence the future of our city. There are several ways to get involved: attend a consultation meeting, participate in an online survey, or communicate with your local councillor. The results of the reviews will be reported to special Standing Committee meetings in July, and council in September in time for the 2012 budget.
In 2011, the city lost $64 million from the cancellation of the vehicle tax and froze property taxes — a loss of $120 million of ongoing revenue. The city is also asking residents about how services should be paid for. Should user fees or property taxes be increased? Are there other ways the city can generate the revenue it needs? Should other levels of government do more?
Time is running out! There are only a few meetings left, and the online survey will be closed on June 17. I urge you to go today to torontoservicereview.ca to find out how you can help our city.
