Deputation to Toronto Budget 2012 Dear Budget Committee Members:

My name is Miguel Avila, A Latino Canadian and Taxpayer. I am here to speak up on the proposed service efficiencies to the Budget of 2012. Between Dec 02 2011 and Dec 06 (then and now) some serious ,new motions are being recommended to Council on January 17, 2012 which I disagree totally. 1.- Charge $2.00 to attend Riverdale Farm that affects directly the Children. 2.- Charge of $2.00 for Pool Users that affects both parents and Children. 3.- Charge of $2.00 for use of DVD at the Library for both parents and Children 4.- Fare increase to T.T.C Childrens Token 5.- Reduction of Meal Program for 14,000 underprivileged Children

The Committee expect solutions not rants, There are some solutions if you are keen to children Mr Del Grande. Mr. Del Grande you have been quoted on the media that this Budget Cuts are tough medicine to the City abcs, right?. You have ordered a 10% reduction to all abcs agencies budgets ,Well most of them have listened to you , Not everyone except the Toronto Police Services , I am not surprise for years the T.P.S has been considered a Sacred Cow worshiped by previous Citys Administrations at City Hall. Mr. Del Grande the T.P.S have been allowed to make 4.5% reduction this year and promising to make the following year in 2012 another 4.5% reduction because of Provincial legislation constraints. Well isnt this fair and just to Toronto Taxpayers?. The T.P.S budget is the singles most expensive budget item, this year budget request is near to $933.781 and has intentions of initiating recruitments starting April 2012 so the so called reduction of staff is a temporary measure.

The General Manager Mr Penachetii sent a memo to the T.P.S Board last November 17 2011 requesting the T.P.S Board to examine at their board meeting of last November 24 2011 a Service Efficiency Study prepared by Ernst and Young . I have contacted the T.P.S Board for a board decision on this regards but it is difficult to get an answer its like trying to pull a teeth from a Dinosaur. I was in attendance yesterday and to my surprise a motion directing to the Citys Transportation Department to put a limit cap to the Paid Duty Service not greater than $200.000 a year was an item for voting consideration.. I am not sure if this motion was passed or rejected by the committee. It would be interesting to know what amount in the budget has been set aside to deal with Paid Duty Cost to the City. Another item of interest is the ever growing cost of the T.P.S own investigation into the G20 Fiasco:

Independent Civilian Review into Matters Relating to the G20 Summit this particular P.R Exercise billing is costing Toronto Taxpayers $658,211 and growing Mind you Mr. Del Grande, I know the result of this report is a waste of taxpayers money. This money could be better put to use to feed our poor children. I understand that a Citizens Review has been the call from Torontonians into the G20 , By far a much cheaper investigation. But the T.P.S Board rejected the idea.

Another solution to deal with the proposed charges to our Children is to demand , yes Mr Del Grande demand Mr. Murkejee and Chief Blair to abide by the decision of this committee to make the 10% cut reduction to the T.P.S Budget how? Simple reduce CIVILIAN staff at the T.P.S I understand they are not subject to any Provincial Legislation so the cuts can be achieved. Also further cuts can be achieved if the T.P.S Board annual budget can be examined by an independent firm to seek further efficiencies.

Yours Truly,

Miguel Avila