Featured News, Latest News, News

Maguire accuses City of irresponsibility for its persistent underfunding of City services

17 May 2017

On Thursday, May 11th, 2017 — Local 79 President Tim Maguire attended the City’s Budget Committee and accused the City of persistently underfunding services. Maguire’s comments came in response to the City’s first quarter operating variance report for 2017, which gives an update on whether the City is on track to meet its budget goals. The report showed more of the same: inadequate and unreliable revenues combined with significant gapping and vacancies.
Without addressing these long-standing problems, City Council cannot make progress on poverty reduction, housing, access to recreation and childcare, and other vital areas.
Watch Maguire’s deputation below.

Local 79’s central concerns arising from the variance report are:

  • The City had 3,112 vacancies at the end of the first quarter, which is an increase over 2016.
  • The vacancy problem is widespread: at least 16 divisions attribute a portion of their favorable variance to vacancies.
  • Vacancies in some divisions – such as MLS, FREEE and SSHA are particularly concerning.
  • The City continues to rely on MLTT rather than sustainable property taxes and other fair and reliable sources of revenue.