Dear neighbours,

Over the past year, residents have been more involved in informing City direction than ever before. Beginning with the Core Service review, followed by all-night deputations, and townhalls across Toronto, residents have been sharing a vision for the type of City where they wish to live.

This process came to a head this week during the 2012 budget process. This budget was created to be financially responsible and move Toronto towards a sustainable city budget.

A central tenet to a sustainable city is a sustainable budget. By streamlining service delivery, Toronto is able to offer more with less, and that is the process I have been engaged in at City Hall. Based on efficiency reports, community consultation, and improved resource management, the 2012 Budget was balanced through:

• $271 million in budget reductions and efficiencies
• $56 million in service level adjustments
• $327 million in increased revenue

But fiscal responsibility is not opposed to social responsibility.

Upon receiving this budget many Councillors and residents shared the concern that important public services would be lost. Savings had been found, but they had been found in library hours, in environmental programs and childcare; programs which are an investment in our communities and an investment in the citizens of our city.

Because of this, I helped design motions that kept those programs that Torontonians cared for, without jeopardizing our improving financial situation. Among them, childcare subsidies, environmental programming, ice rinks, library hours, and homeless shelters. We were also able to prevent transit service reductions and save the Community Partnership Investment Program, which supports many seniors, newcomers, and youth programs in our area and across the City. These programs represent a miniscule portion of the City budget, but have an enormous impact on the quality of life of Toronto residents and I was pleased to have the large majority of Councillors support these important services.

As a City, we have made enormous strides towards a sound and strong financial situation and passing the 2012 budget was an important step in this direction. For the first time in the 14 years since amalgamation, less money was spent this year than last year. Council will now be able to make the responsible decisions to pay down the large City debt, improve the City’s financial flexibility to respond to emergencies, and attract foreign investment. This is the way to build quality jobs, a healthy economy and a vibrant city.

During the 2010 Municipal election, Torontonians elected many different Councillors, each with their own backgrounds and philosophies about City management, with the expectation that they would work together in the best interests of residents. This budget represents the fruit of this process; it is a financially sustainable budget, a socially sustainable budget, and a budget for which all Toronto residents can be proud.

Looking forward, our city is moving towards a more stable financial situation, and is doing so without losing the programs that make it special. Thank you to the many residents to whom I have had the opportunity to discuss this budget, and for the many thoughtful suggestions about increasing the strength of our community groups and neighbourhood organizations. I will continue to reach out, hear your thoughts and work to make our ward, and City, a better place to work and live.

Sincerely,

Ana Bailão
City Councillor,
Ward 18, Davenport