Backgrounder
October 2, 2024

Mayor Olivia Chow and Councillor Shelley Carroll (Don Valley North), Chair of the Budget Committee, have launched the second annual budget consultations for the City of Toronto’s 2025 Budget, inviting residents to participate in a transparent, collaborative and inclusive budget process. 

Under the “Strong Mayor Powers”, the Mayor proposes the City’s annual Budget to Toronto City Council for consideration. City Council then determines the revenue sources including tax levies, rates, user fees and direct taxes. 

2025 Budget consultations
Until Thursday, October 31, Toronto residents are invited to share their ideas about the City’s 2025 Budget through an online survey and at one of six consultations.  

Survey
Until Thursday, October 31, Toronto residents can complete an online survey available on the City’s 2025 Budget webpage. The survey is available in 12 languages: English, French, Chinese-simplified, Chinese-traditional, Farsi, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil and Urdu. 

In-person consultations 

  • Saturday, October 19, noon to 2 p.m., North York Memorial Hall, Burgundy Rooms A & B, 5110 Yonge St.
  • Thursday, October 24, 7 to 9 p.m., Scarborough Civic Centre, Rotunda, 150 Borough Dr.
  • Sunday, October 27, noon to 2 p.m., Rose Avenue Junior Public School, Old Gym, 675 Ontario St.
  • Monday, October 28, 7 to 9 p.m., Etobicoke Olympium, Large Gym, 590 Rathburn Rd.

Virtual consultations 

The City is also engaging with Albion Neighbourhood Services and Community Coordination Plan partners, the Toronto Youth Cabinet and the Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council who will facilitate community-led consultations with Black, Indigenous and equity-deserving communities as well as youth city-wide. The Community Coordination Plan is a partnership model to enhance service coordination and communication among more than 400 community organizations in Toronto. 

The results of the 2025 Budget Consultations will inform decision-making at the City and support discussions with the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada to build a strong financial future for Toronto. 

The results will be presented to the Budget Committee when the 2025 Budget launches on January 13, 2025 and will accompany the Budget Committee’s recommendations to the Mayor to help inform her proposed budget which will be released by February 1, 2025. 

The budget process will follow its standard procedures. This will include a presentation by the City Manager and Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer to launch the staff prepared budget, as well as service area and select agency presentations and public presentations to hear additional feedback from Toronto residents. 

As required by provincial legislation, the Mayor will propose the budget for City Council’s consideration by February 1. City Council will then evaluate the Mayor’s budget, alongside other budget-related items within its authority at a special meeting, scheduled for February 11, 2025. 

The 2025 Budget key dates 

  • 2025 Budget Consultations – from now until Thursday, October 31. 
  • Interim rate report to Executive Committee (Solid Waste Management Services, Toronto Parking Authority and Toronto Water) – Tuesday, December 10 
  • Interim rate report to City Council – Tuesday, December 17 to Thursday, December 19 
  • 2025 Budget launch – Monday, January 13, 2025 
  • Budget Committee review – Wednesday, January 15 to Friday, January 17, 2025 
  • Budget Committee public presentations – Tuesday, January 21 and Wednesday, January 22, 2025 
  • Budget Committee wrap-up – Friday, January 24, 2025  
  • Mayor’s proposed 2025 Budget release – by February 1, 2025 
  • City Council (Special) – Tuesday, February 11, 2025 

Public engagement
Once the Budget launches on Monday, January 13, 2025, Toronto residents will have additional opportunities to engage in the process online and in person by joining one of three telephone townhalls with Mayor Olivia Chow and Budget Committee Chair Councillor Shelley Carroll, writing to members of the Budget Committee and Members of Council, attending a local Councillor’s Budget Townhall and speaking to members of the Budget Committee on January 21 and 22, 2025. 

Special Powers and Duties of the Mayor
Regulations prescribe the process for the City’s annual budget: 

  • The Mayor has the duty to propose an annual budget to City Council no later than February 1.  
  • City Council has 30 days to amend the proposed budget after the Mayor presents it or may choose to shorten this period (for 2025, City Council adopted a meeting calendar with a Special City Council meeting on Tuesday, February 11 to consider the proposed budget, which shortened this period). If City Council does not amend the proposed budget within this time, the Mayor’s proposed budget is deemed adopted. 
  • The Mayor may veto City Council amendments up to ten days after the period for City Council to pass amendments ends (the shorter of the 30 days or the shorter time adopted by City Council), or the Mayor may choose to shorten this period. If the Mayor does not exercise her veto, the amended budget is deemed adopted. 
  • City Council may override the Mayor’s veto with a two-third vote up to 15 days after the period for the Mayor to veto an amendment (the shorter of the ten days or the shorter time adopted by the Mayor), in which case the amended budget is deemed adopted. This period may also be shortened by City Council. 
  • If City Council does not exercise an override of the Mayor’s veto, the proposed budget is deemed adopted. 

More information is available on the City’s 2025 Budget webpage.

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