We might just see a twister and a strike of lightning simultaneously if Council can pass today's budget unscathed.
Here are the final set of recommendations for Council to consider for approval today.
What strikes me as new and significant in the mix is this:
Retiring Toronto City Councillor Kyle Rae is sick and tired of the hopeless fiscal situation of municipalities.
The political retirement of veteran Toronto City Councillor Kyle Rae is not particularly significant for us here on the west coast as a stand alone story. Rae was Toronto’s first openly gay politician, and spent 18 years as the representative for Toronto Centre-Rosedale.
What is significant from the perspective of Vancouver, and indeed all BC municipalities however, is his reasoning for doing so.
In fact, in light of Vancouver’s current budget crunch, local Councillors and critics alike would be wise to use his experience as an indicator of what could be our future.
Inspiration for Gregor Robertson and Penny Ballem as they shape the upcoming budget.
Just read over the administrative report from the General Manager of Financial Services to City Council on the 2010 Operating Budget estimates.
“Council had provided direction in a number of areas that helped inform the 2010 Budget strategy:
- Minimize property tax increases over two to three years
- Maintain all necessary health and safety standards
- Protect services to vulnerable populations
- Protect arts and culture
- Invest in economic development including optimize Olympic opportunity
- Support greenest city initiatives
- Examine the service delivery of all city services and streamline to make more efficient
- Strategically implement any reductions to services to minimize the impact as much as possible on citizens and staff”
A couple of thoughts:
Hot off the presses:
“Memorandum: 2010 Operating Budget” from City Manager from Penny Ballem.
So, 158 FTE out of a total city staff of about 10,000 is far less that I was expecting. These could shockingly be the most innocuous of the cuts. Let’s see where they go next.
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“Perhaps it was my silk dress or the new perfume I’ve been wearing lately. When I asked Suzanne Anton what her New Year’s resolution was, she replied, “To kiss a pretty girl!” and pecked me on the cheek.” – Writer Emily Barca describing her encounter with the lone NPA City Councillor on New Year’s Eve.
