Toronto Civics 101   –   Sessions   1   –   2   –   3   –   4   –   5   –   6

October 29, 2009
The City of Toronto has one of the largest government budgets in Canada, and coordinated spending is the primary way the City implements its priorities. However, the City must operate in a legislative and fiscal framework which dictates a large part of its activity and spending. This session provided the basics on where the money comes from and where it is spent, and walked participants through the budget process.

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• Session 4 agenda (PDF)
• Toronto's fiscal framework - Councillor Shelley Carroll
  (video 32 minutes)
• Overview of City's fiscal situation including definitions, operating and capital budgets, decision-making, and comparisons with other cities.
• Presentation slides for Councillor Carroll (PDF)
• Questions and answers for Councillor Carroll (video 14 minutes)
• Mock budget exercise - John Schaffter (video 12 minutes)
• How the City balances its budget, and explaining the mock exercise for participants to try and balance the same numbers.
• Reporting back on the exercise - participant's reactions
  (video 12 minutes)
• Fiscal sustainability - Cam Weldon, Chief Financial Officer and Deputy City Manager (video 23 minutes)
• An overview of the City's sustainability financing and fiscal strategy
• Presentation slides for Cam Weldon (PDF)
• Questions and answers for Cam Weldon and Councillor Shelley Carroll, and reporting back on group exercises (video 21 minutes)

Resources

City of Toronto

• City of Toronto Finance
  City of Toronto finances include corporate financial management, reporting and policy development. These pages offer a comprehensive financial profile of City programs and services. Learn how the City budget works and how your tax dollars are invested and managed for a prosperous and financially sustainable Toronto.
  
  
• Toronto's 2010 Budget
  This site contains the 2010 capital and operating budget schedules, and facts on Divisional budgets.
  
  
• 2010 Operating Budget
  Watch a video of the City of Toronto's 2010 Operating Budget being introduced to Budget Committee on February 16, 2010. Includes remarks by Mayor Miller, Councillor Shelley Carroll, and the staff presentation to the Budget Committee.
  
  
• Financing and the City of Toronto, City of Toronto, 2008
  A user guide on Toronto finances, including information on the City's revenue sources, its operating and capital budgets, and an examination of the challenges Toronto, along with other Canadian cities face.
  
  
• Long Term Fiscal Plan
  City Council unanimously approved the Long-Term Fiscal Plan at its meeting on April 12, 2005, as recommended by the Ad Hoc Committee to Develop a Long-Term Fiscal Plan. It contains recommendations and strategies related to expenditures, revenue and assets and liabilities.
  
  
• A Blueprint for Fiscal Stability and Economic Prosperity, City of Toronto Independent Fiscal Review Panel, 2008 (PDF)
  The City of Toronto Independent Fiscal Review Panel was charged with assessing the City's relative competitiveness, financial position, revenue opportunities and savings potential in the near to medium term, and to make recommendations to the Mayor. The report includes recommendations on governance structures and processes; fiscal prudence; revenue diversification and growth; more flexibility from people; and breaking down barriers.

Canadian Cities

• Our Cities Our Future: Addressing the fiscal imbalance in Canada's cities today, Big City Mayors' Caucus, June 2006 (PDF)
  The primary sources of revenue for cities-property taxes and user fees-do not respond to growth, and do not provide enough revenue. As a result, many cities face significant infrastructure deficits and economic, social and environmental pressures. This paper presents recommendations to be considered by all orders of government.
  
  
• Toronto's 2007 Performance Measurement and Benchmarking Report (PDF 10 Mb)
  This report provides results on over 150 service level indicators and performance measures covering 23 service areas. It includes up to 8 years of Toronto's historical data to examine internal trends, and compares results externally to fourteen other municipalities.

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