I guess everyone who reads this already knows that the City of Toronto is facing a huge deficit and is considering a host of new taxes (most of which will drive business out of the city and worsen the problem) to attempt to balance income and expenditures.
Then along comes this. The city has a long-standing policy of charging an annual fee to building owners whose structures encroach on city property. The extension to the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is one sure structure (probably the most awful building allowed to be built in the city in a hundred years, but that’s a story for another time - it’s here and we’re going to have to live with it). Under the city policy, the ROM owes the city $2,400 a year for overhanging Bloor Street.
The local community council has approved, subject to ratification by the full council, waiving the fee if the ROM will allow five low-income-family children attend a one week day camp each March. Let’s accept that $2,400 is insignificant to an institution with a multi-million dollar operating budget. For the city, it’s the precedent that matters and the message it sends about the revenue shortfall.
Maybe councillor Kyle Rae, who advocated for the waiver, can explain how he will rationalise charging all the other building owners who encroach when the ROM gets off the hook? Maybe he can explain how the city will make up for the loss of revenue as more and more building apply for an exemption? Maybe he can explain why sending kids to a one week day-camp is a priority for city that can’t afford its existing services.
Admittedly, $2,400 is pennies in the Toronto budget. But a thousand here and a thousand there and before you know it you have thrown away some real money. And negated the argument that you need to raise taxes. It’s DUMB, Kyle. Capital “D” dumb.
Then along comes this. The city has a long-standing policy of charging an annual fee to building owners whose structures encroach on city property. The extension to the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is one sure structure (probably the most awful building allowed to be built in the city in a hundred years, but that’s a story for another time - it’s here and we’re going to have to live with it). Under the city policy, the ROM owes the city $2,400 a year for overhanging Bloor Street.
The local community council has approved, subject to ratification by the full council, waiving the fee if the ROM will allow five low-income-family children attend a one week day camp each March. Let’s accept that $2,400 is insignificant to an institution with a multi-million dollar operating budget. For the city, it’s the precedent that matters and the message it sends about the revenue shortfall.
Maybe councillor Kyle Rae, who advocated for the waiver, can explain how he will rationalise charging all the other building owners who encroach when the ROM gets off the hook? Maybe he can explain how the city will make up for the loss of revenue as more and more building apply for an exemption? Maybe he can explain why sending kids to a one week day-camp is a priority for city that can’t afford its existing services.
Admittedly, $2,400 is pennies in the Toronto budget. But a thousand here and a thousand there and before you know it you have thrown away some real money. And negated the argument that you need to raise taxes. It’s DUMB, Kyle. Capital “D” dumb.
