BUDGET 2026
PLANNING AHEAD
What We Heard Last Year
• Residents asked for safer streets, better parks, youth spaces, reliable transit, and smarter use of tax dollars.
• People wanted services to be more efficient, not just more expensive.
• Families told us clearly: Scarborough North needs investment, not neglect.
What We Delivered
• Two youth hubs advanced directly from community feedback.
• CampTO snack program expanded to almost all campers with no new money by fixing inefficiencies.
• Milliken Recreation Centre hours restored.
• Speed humps, new crossings, and neighbourhood traffic plans implemented.
• TTC fare freeze continued and better bus service added across key Scarborough routes.
• Park upgrades moving ahead in Milliken, Muirlands, Seasons, and Goldhawk.
• Missing Middle/Sixplex housing pilot progressing to help seniors and families stay in the community.
• Malvern Mall redevelopment now guided by residents.
A Stronger Voice on Budget
• This year, I’m serving on the Budget Committee.
• Scarborough North finally has a direct seat at the table where financial decisions are made.
• Combined with my Audit role, this means more oversight and better value for taxpayers.
My Priorities for 2026
• Urban Park Ranger to keep our parks clean, safe, and active — and to support community events and programs.
• Malvern Redevelopment that reflects the community’s needs and culture, not just developer interests.
• Better Tree Maintenance through a more proactive and efficient model across the ward.
• Transit Affordability continuing to protect fares and improve service reliability.
• TTC Continuation of Bus Bunching & Gapping Pilot; Expanding the Station Cleaning Pilot; Introduction of Fare Capping; Advocating for better Wayfinding strategy.
BUDGET 2025
Please take a minute and give us your feedback!
2025 Budget Update: A message from me
2025 City Budget
Resources & Updates
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Complete:
City’s Public Consultation and Online Survey
10/01 to 10/31/2024
An online survey was available in 12 languages.Complete:
Fall Budget Consultations
10/19 to 10/30/2024
Consultations were held in Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough, Toronto and virtually.Current:
Interim Rate Approvals
12/10/2024 – Next up.
Executive Committee meeting to consider interim rate approvals.Incomplete:
Interim Rate Approvals
12/17 to 12/19/2024 – Upcoming
City Council meeting to consider interim rate approvals.Incomplete:
2025 Budget Launch
01/13/2025 – Upcoming
First Budget Committee meeting for 2025 budget.Incomplete:
Public Consultation: Telephone Townhalls
January 2025 – Upcoming
Participate in a townhall to hear more about the 2025 Budget and ask your questions.Incomplete:
Service Area Presentations
01/15 to 01/17/2025 – Upcoming
Budget Committee meeting to review service area staff budgets.Incomplete:
Budget Committee Public Presentations
01/21 to 01/22/2025- Upcoming
Your chance to speak directly to members of the Budget Committee at City Hall or a local Civic Centre.Incomplete:
Budget Committee Wrap Up
01/24/2025 – Upcoming
Final Budget Committee meeting for the 2025 Budget.Incomplete:
Mayor’s Proposed Budget
By February 1, 2025 – Upcoming
Mayor Olivia Chow releases her proposed 2025 Budget for City Council consideration.Incomplete:
Special City Council Meeting
02/11/2025 – Upcoming
A special meeting of Toronto City Council to discuss the 2025 Budget. -
Operating Budget
The Operating Budget covers day-to-day spending on services such as recreation programs, parks maintenance, public health, roads, transit, and emergency services. Approximately 31 per cent of the Operating Budget comes from property taxes, the rest from provincial grants and subsidies, user fees, reserves and other income such as income from investments.
Capital Budget
The Capital Budget pays for the City’s big-ticket items that it owns and manages, such as infrastructure, transit, roads, bridges, parks and public buildings, including libraries, community centres and fire stations. The 10-year Capital Budget and Plan is updated and presented each year as part of the budget process. The Capital Budget is primarily funded from reserves, development charges, other governments and borrowing. Ontario municipalities may issue long-term debt only for capital and not operating expenses.
Rate-supported Programs
The City also has three rate-supported programs funded almost entirely by user fees: Solid Waste Management, the Toronto Parking Authority and Toronto Water. User fees, based on rate models, pay for all or some of the services and the infrastructure to deliver them. For example, water fees are based on how much water used, and households pay different fees depending on the size of garbage bins they have.
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Balancing the Budget
The City is required by provincial law to balance its operating and capital budget each year – which means that the money spent must be equal to the money raised.
To balance the budget, the City can either increase its taxes and fees and/or change or reduce the cost or amount of services provided.
Budget Surpluses and Deficits
When the City spends less or raises more money than it thought it would during a year, it might end up with a surplus. 75 per cent of operating budget surpluses must go to the Capital Budget for infrastructure projects and 25 per cent to top-up reserves. The City has never had a deficit. In other words, the City has never spent more than its revenues.
The Difference Between Gross and Net Costs
The Gross budget is the total cost of running all city programs and services. It’s the large number that includes everything. The Net budget is what’s left after subtracting other funding the City gets from other sources, such as subsidies for cost-shared services and program fees. The Net budget is the part of the budget that gets paid for by taxes and other fees.
Cost-shared Services
Several City services are paid for through agreements between the City and other orders of government. For example, shelters, daycare, emergency medical services, public health and income support programs are funded by both the City and the Province of Ontario.
Reserves
Funds set aside by City Council to save over time to pay for big projects, protect against market changes or handle unexpected costs. These reserve funds can be used for general needs or specific purposes, depending on Council decisions.
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The City Budget is about building a great city.
The Budget Committee will review a staff prepared budget and hear input from Toronto residents and businesses. The Mayor will then present the Mayor’s budget by February 1 and City Council will consider that Budget within 30 days.
Through this process, City Council makes decisions about City services, programs and infrastructure that impact you and your community.
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Speak to Budget Committee on January 21 and 22, 2025 in person or by video conference.
The meetings will stream live on the City Council YouTube channel.
Times, locations and registration information will be released in January.
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