The Province is Right......

The problem is the province has already handed the city $200 million for 2007 (not all cash).
That said, it's about time property taxes and user fees go to what we need the most -- police, fire, ambulance, roads, transit, recreation, water, garbage pickup, libraries and the like. And start looking at contracting out, reduce or at least hold the line on staffing at 2004 levels, possibly reducing the size of council, selling off redundant properties........we don't need surprises we need council to do their job.

Toronto needs a budget surprise
By ROB GRANATSTEIN

Missing from this year's budget season has been the intolerable whining, begging and pleading for cash from Toronto City Hall to the federal and provincial governments.

Sure there's the laughable 1c of the GST campaign launched on bus shelters and lapel pins across the city, but let's get real.

We've missed the "we're all going to die broke and broken down in a gaping pothole" hysteria of years gone by.

Instead, the work on the city's $8.1-billion operating budget is being done behind closed doors, but is it doing any good?

Since election day last November, Mayor David Miller has barked loudly that this is Toronto's chance to cash in. A perfect convergence of an election year for the McGuinty Liberals, a likely election year for the minority Harper government, and a huge mandate for our town's top political dog.

What will it get us?

Here's what we should hope for. Tomorrow we need Finance Minister Jim Flaherty to say gas tax money is here to stay. It would be better if it actually increased, too. As it stands right now, the gas tax money ends after next year. Over the last two years that cash has fuelled Toronto to the tune of about $184 million. Increase it and we start thinking about expanding the TTC. Keep it where it is and the Red Rocket stalls. End it and we're toast.

With the census showing a flood of people to the cities, it's mandatory the gas tax money grows. The hopes for a National Transit Strategy? While worthwhile, don't expect miracles.

The other phrase Toronto and Ontario need to listen for is "fiscal imbalance." If Ottawa plays nice, money should flow to the province.

That takes us to Thursday's provincial budget. If there's some fiscal rebalancing, Ontario Finance Minister Greg Sorbara needs to main line the money straight into the Ontario Drug Benefit Plan and Ontario Disability Support Program.

While the province delivers the services, there's a cap to their funding and the cities get a bill for 100% of everything else. For Toronto that's $127 million.

The cities argue -- rightfully -- the bill for these services shouldn't be on the property tax bill. If they could win that fight, it would be worth $175 million for Toronto, and millions for cities in the GTA.

When you consider a 3% residential tax, plus 1% for business raises $56 million in T.O. -- barely enough to handle the growth in the drug and disability payments alone, without even touching the nice raises for city workers -- this burden is too much to bear.

The problem is the province has already handed the city $200 million for 2007 (not all cash).

That said, it's about time property taxes and user fees go to what we need the most -- police, fire, ambulance, roads, transit, recreation, water, garbage pickup, libraries and the like.

There are 22 Toronto seats in both the upcoming federal and provincial elections. Don't expect this week's budgets to sway anyone. These budgets likely won't earn our vote.