Everyone I know is budgeting, tightening their spending and being frugal. I know friends who have decided not to vacation this year. Others are working closely with financial advisors to make sure they are making sound investments. I don’t know of anyone in my extended group of friends (and family) who is spending freely. Why then, are the councillors appointed to run the City of Toronto spending and budgeting as if we weren’t deeply enveloped in a global recession?

The City’s $8.7 million budget was unveiled yesterday to the council. What first alarmed me about the budget was the city’s plans to hire about 1,000 new staff and that $8.5 million was set aside for merit pay for non-unionized city hall staff. Is this the City’s idea of fiscal prudence?

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