Cost-cutting in Toronto parks budget ‘stealing from the future,’ say councillors

Not paying for small things like tree maintenance now will lead to much bigger bills later, budget meeting told.

Thestar.com
Jan. 13, 2023
Alyshah Hasham

It seems like a small thing: a $500,000 cut in the tree maintenance budget.

But with wait-lists already at almost a year, it means another 2,500 trees won’t get preventative work in 2023.

That’s more branches to come crashing down on power lines in the next climate-change driven storm, and more tree canopy that disappears, leaving the city hotter than ever.

When that bill -- and many more like it -- comes it will cost way more down the line both financially and in liveability for residents, say some city councillors who see the mayor’s $16-billion 2023 budget proposal as a “starvation budget” that fails to think about the future in its emphasis on saving money while not cutting front-line services this year.

“We are calling this a balanced budget, but it is only balanced because it is stealing from the future,” said Coun. Dianne Saxe (Ward 11 University-Rosedale), adding the city cannot just keep not paying off its credit card while debt compounds.

Tree maintenance is a tiny example. A bigger one is a repair backlog for aging city pools, community areas and parks that is expected to balloon to a billion dollars by 2026.

Under questions from Saxe on Thursday at a budget committee meeting, staff agreed the backlog of park repairs is getting worse every year.

The causes include staffing shortages and climate change-linked storms and flooding, as well as changing season start and end times, according to a budget briefing note.

Staff are hoping that at least increased park maintenance costs will be covered this year in part by $17 million in COVID-19 funding as yet not committed by the federal or provincial governments -- with a more sustainable solution in future years.

The city will be spending $2 million on opening water fountains and seasonal washroom earlier in the year and closing them later. Last year, water fountains were open by June 25. This year they will open within six weeks after the last frost -- typically in mid-April -- and at the latest by the May long weekend, staff said. Washrooms should open within three weeks of the last frost, staff said, and will close later in the fall.

Washrooms will also be open later, till 10 p.m., and longer during special events.

Only three more seasonal washrooms will be winterized in 2023, with two more planned for 2024. Of the 146 currently winterized washrooms, 51 are portable toilets. The city is currently looking at where more washrooms could be winterized in destination parks and popular trails.

Recreation programs will be rolled out at pre-pandemic levels, except for aquatic programs because of a North-America-wide lifeguard and instructor shortages stemming from a hiatus in certifications.

A massive hiring drive, free certification and an increase in lifeguard salaries means about 30,000 more program spaces can be offered this year, staff said, but they still expect a revenue loss of $11 million in part due to lower enrolment.

Coun. Alejandra Bravo (Ward 9 Davenport) noted user fees for things like swimming lessons are also going up by 4.73 per cent due to inflation, which could impact families struggling with higher rents and costs of living.

Some good news: the city expects to open five new cricket pitches in the next five years, as well as coming up with a “cricket strategy” for the locally growing sport. There is also more pickleball availability than ever before, 18 expanded community gardens, and plans for more pools throughout the city (funding still to be determined).

As for the trees, the city assured Saxe that they will be triaged and dangerous ones prioritized, characterizing the reduction in service as minor.

Saxe is unconvinced. The city has plans to plant more 100,000 trees but the money to look after the trees we already have is shrinking.

“It’s much, much better to look after things ahead of time,” she said. “We need the trees and we need the trees healthy.”