Councillor seeks to restore program cuts with new-found surplus

KELLY GRANT City hall bureau chief Globe and Mail Update Published Monday, May. 07, 2012 4:59PM EDT Last updated Monday, May. 07, 2012 5:29PM EDT

Toronto council appears poised to undo the last of its controversial 2012 spending cuts, despite the budget committees opposition to temporarily restoring funding to the High Park Zoo, Far Enough Farm and a hardship fund for the citys neediest.

Theres going to be a floor fight on council on this item, Councillor James Pasternak said. Were going to move it straight up there and that way all 44 councillors and the mayor have a say in whats important to Torontonians. I think the most important thing is we have to cut through a lot of the histrionics of financial despair that were plaguing the budgetary process into the fall and early 2012.

The North York councillor and newest member of the budget committee on Monday proposed using more than $1.7-million of the $292-million 2011 surplus as a short-term rescue fund for a slew of programs left on life support after the January budget vote.

He also moved a motion asking that $258,000 of the solid waste departments $37-million 2011 surplus be dedicated to waiving a contentious new waste fee for charities.

The budget committee rejected Mr. Pasternaks proposals, most by votes of 3-2, with Councillors Peter Milczyn, John Parker and Doug Ford voting against, and Chin Lee voting with Mr. Pasternak.

The committee endorsed a separate motion from Mr. Lee allocating $180,000 of the surplus to extreme cleaning for bed bugs, provided the province kicks in $500,000 in 2012 for bed bug eradication.

Despite the thumbs down at budget committee, council will have a final say in June.

Budget Chief Mike Del Grande said he was frustrated a member of his own budget committee tried to revisit the 2012 budget months after it was settled.

My feeling is the budget is the budget. You cant keep re-opening it. Its closed.

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Councillor seeks to restore program cuts with new-found surplus