Item - 2021.BU29.2

The Budget Committee:

1.  Deferred consideration of item BU29.2 to the February 4, 2021 meeting of the Budget Committee.

2.  Requested budget briefing notes as follows:

Infrastructure and Development Services

The Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure and Development Services, in consultation with appropriate staff and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, on:

1. The Toronto Wildlife Centre, including:

a. the status of the $750,000 grant, provided to the Toronto Wildlife Centre through the 2017 Budget, related to its wildlife rehabilitation centre, including the status of the work and the utilization of the funds; and

b. the status of the Menno-Reesor $3.5 Million project, including the funds spent, the work completed and the scope of work that was defined for restoration of the house and barn (as directed by MM44.99, 2018), as well as the status of the $450,000 re-allocation of funds for repair of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority-owned heritage barn and dwelling and placement of portable on site (as directed by MM2.23, 2019).

The City Manager gave a presentation on the 2021 Staff Recommended Operating and Capital Budgets.

The Budget Committee will consider and make recommendations to the Executive Committee on the 2021 Capital and Operating Budgets.

The following schedule has been established for the consideration of the 2021 Staff Recommended Capital and Operating Budgets:

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Service Group Presentation:

Community and Social Services:

Children's Services
Economic Development and Culture
Housing Secretariat
Toronto Employment and Social Services
Toronto Paramedic Services  
Parks, Forestry and Recreation

Shelter, Support and Housing Administration
Court Services
Seniors Services and Long Term Care
Social Development, Finance and Administration

Agencies:

Toronto Public Health
Toronto Community Housing Corporation 

Questions and answers only - no presentations:

Accountability Officers:

Office of the Auditor General
Office of the Integrity Commissioner
Office of the Lobbyist Registrar
Ombudsman Toronto

Thursday, January 21, 2021

Service Group Presentation:

Infrastructure and Development Services:

City Planning
Municipal Licensing and Standards
Toronto Fire Services
Transportation Services
Engineering and Construction Services
Office of Emergency Management
Policy Planning, Finance & Administration
Toronto Building
Transit Expansion Office
Waterfront Revitalization Initiative

Agencies:

Toronto Public Library
Toronto Transit Commission  
Toronto Police Service  

Questions and answers only - no presentations:

Agencies:

Toronto Police Services Board  
Toronto Police Services Parking Enforcement Unit  
Arena Boards of Management  
Association of Community Centres   
Exhibition Place  
Heritage Toronto  
TO Live  
Toronto Atmospheric Fund  
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority  
Toronto Zoo  
Yonge - Dundas Square

Friday, January 22, 2021

Service Group Presentation:

Corporate Services:

311 Toronto
Corporate Real Estate Management
Environment & Energy
Fleet Services
Office of the Chief Information Security Officer  
Technology Services

Questions and answers only - no presentations:

Agencies:

CreateTO

Finance and Treasury Services:  
Office of the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer  
Office of the Controller  

Other:

City Manager's Office  
Legal Services  
City Clerk's Office  
City Council  
Office of the Mayor  

At it's meeting on November 16, 2020, the Board of Health considered Item HL23.3, "Toronto Public Health 2021 Operating Budget Request" and made recommendations to City Council.

This report outlines the Toronto Public Health (TPH) 2021 Operating Budget Submission for consideration by the Board of Health. TPH's 2021 Operating Budget Submission totals $344,596.4 thousand gross, $127,383.9 thousand net, and 2,486.3 positions.

This submission is $64,173.5 thousand gross and $56,554.8 thousand net higher than the Restated 2020 Operating Budget. This submission also reflects an increase of 460.4 positions above the Restated 2020 Operating Budget. The increases to the 2021 Operating Budget Submission is predominately related to the additional staffing and resources for TPH's COVID-19 response to be funded by the Ministry of Health.

The 2021 Operating Budget Submission includes 2020 in-year changes, 2021 base changes, pending Council approval, and a 2021 service enhancement as detailed in the recommendations included in this report.

At it's meeting on November 16, 2020, the Board of Health considered Item HL23.4, "Toronto Public Health 2021-2030 Capital Budget and Plan Request" and made recommendations to City Council.

This report provides an overview of the Toronto Public Health 2021 Capital Budget and 2022-2030 Plan Request.

Toronto Public Health is recommending a 2021-2030 Capital Budget and Plan of $31.792 million, including a 2021 Capital Budget of $3.065 million with future year commitments of $5.982 million and future year estimates of $22.745 million. This 10-Year Capital Budget and Plan Request will provide funding for eighteen projects.

At its meeting on December 4, 2020, the Board of Directors of CreateTO considered Item RA19.3, titled "CreateTO 2021 Operating Budget" and made recommendations to City Council.

The 2021 CreateTO Operating Budget represents a decrease of $0.062 million over the 2020 budget.

The 2021 CreateTO Operating Budget includes the addition of one fulltime position, a portfolio strategy analyst, increasing the total staffing complement to 69 employees.

At its meeting on November 19, 2020, the Audit Committee considered Item AU7.6, titled "Auditor General's Office 2021 Operating Budget" and made recommendations to City Council.

In accordance with Chapter 3 of the Toronto Municipal Code, the Auditor General is submitting her 2021 Operating Budget request to the Audit Committee for consideration and recommendation to City Council.

The attached report provides information relating to the Auditor General's 2021 Operating Budget request of $6.651 million. This is slightly less than the base budget request last year and is equal to 1/20th of one per cent, or 0.05 per cent, of the City's 2020 Approved Adjusted Budget. Within the requested base budget, the Auditor General is seeking to convert five temporary contract staff positions to permanent positions as part of an organizational restructure. This will result in a net zero budget impact; conversion costs will be absorbed in the base budget.

The budget request supports the Auditor General providing the same level of capacity to undertake value for money audits and investigations as in previous years. The Auditor General recognizes the City's ongoing financial pressures, especially with a focus on identifying savings and/or efficiencies. That being said, the benefits of performance audits that the Auditor General brings are that much more valuable. As highlighted in the Auditor General's Annual Reports, past audit reports have realized millions of dollars in cost savings, avoided costs, and identified revenue increases and new revenues.

The Auditor General's 2021 Work Plan is being presented to the Audit Committee at the same meeting as this 2021 Budget Request.

This report transmits to Budget Committee the Ombudsman's recommendation for Ombudsman Toronto's 2021 Operating Budget and Ombudsman Toronto's 2021-2030 Capital Plan.

This report transmits to Budget Committee the recommended 2021 Operating Budget for the Office of the Integrity Commissioner (the "Office" or the "OIC").

This report seeks Budget Committee’s recommendation for City Council to approve the Toronto Lobbyist Registrar’s 2021 Operating Budget Request of $1.236 million gross and net, and its 2022-2030 Capital Plan.

At its meeting on Monday, December 21, 2020, the TTC Board considered a report  (December 21, 2020) from the Interim Chief Financial Officer titled “TTC 15-Year Capital Investment Plan & 2021-2030 Capital Budget & Plan”.

The Board adopted the recommendations in the staff report, as follows:

1. Approve the staff recommended TTC 2021-2030 Base Capital Budget & Plan of $11.689 billion as outlined in Appendix A of the report (December 21, 2020) from the Interim Chief Financial Officer.

2. Approve the staff recommended TTC 2021-2030 Capital Budget & Plan of $217.781 million for Transit Expansion Projects including the completion of the remaining scope for the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension, SRT Life Extension Overhaul for Line 2 Subway Extension (formerly Scarborough Subway Extension) and Waterfront Transit as outlined in Appendix A of report (December 21, 2020) from the Interim Chief Financial Officer.

3. Forward this report to the City Budget Committee and the City Manager as the official 2021-2030 Capital Budget and Plan submission for the Toronto Transit Commission.

At its meeting on December 21, 2020, the Toronto Transit Commission Board considered a report (December 21, 2020) from the Interim Financial Chief Officer titled “2021 Toronto Transit Commission and Wheel-Trans Operating Budgets”.
  

The Board adopted the recommendations in the staff report, as follows:

1. Approve the recommended 2021 Toronto Transit Commission Conventional Operating Budget of $2.034 billion in gross expenditures, revenues of $0.562 billion in revenues and a net funding requirement of $1.472 billion, inclusive of the $794.6 million TTC Conventional COVID-19 financial impact, as detailed in the report (December 21, 2020) from the Interim Financial Chief Officer.

2. Approve the recommended 2021 Wheel-Trans Budget of $118.6 million in gross expenditures, $4.3 million in revenues and a net funding requirement of $114.3 million, inclusive of the $1.8 million Wheel-Trans COVID-19 financial impact, as detailed in the report (December 21, 2020) from the Interim Financial Chief Officer.

3. Request City Council to authorize a special contribution to the Toronto Transit Commission  Stabilization Reserve, equal to the proceeds to be received from the anticipated settlement with Metrolinx, to provide a funding source for Light Rail Transit construction disruption service.

4. Approve a 2021 year-end workforce complement of 16,313 positions, reflecting an increase of 69 positions to support service delivery and 77 positions for capital project delivery, as described in Appendix C to the report (December 21, 2020) from the Interim Financial Chief Officer.

5. Forward this report to the City Budget Committee and the City Manager as the official 2021 Operating Budget submission for the Toronto Transit Commission.

At its meeting on October 26, 2020, the Board of Governors of Exhibition Place considered Item EP14.2, titled "2021 Operating Budget" and made recommendations to City Council.

On August 7th, the City Manager's Office provided the preliminary 2020 Budget Process, Directions, and Guidelines for all City Divisions and Agencies for 2020 which is subject to change. Until such other direction is given the Board is following last years directive to all City Divisions and Agencies which is to submit a zero change budget year over year.

In preparing our budget plan, we have taken into consideration the financial impacts of COVID-19, and therefore have provided for a 0 percent COLA increase and 0 percent pay for Performance increases for 2021 per Council directives. There is still some uncertainty as to the future financial impacts and the extent of COVID-19, and it is still too early to assess 2021 operating impact. Exhibition Place staff have developed a 2021 status quo Operating Budget that is consistent with 2020 budget principles with a nil ($0) increase over the 2020 Operating Budget. This preliminary budget plan will not have an impact on the City property tax base year-over-year. Wages and benefits cost saving from delaying in hiring replacements for management staff who retired in 2020, temporary laid off of casual/temporary staff, and reduction in volume of base building maintenance and overtime.

Staff are optimistic that although the volatility of COVID-19 may not be completely gone, the exhibition business will return to some normalcy in a COVID-19 world, but are aware that measures may have to be taken again for 2021 with similar financial impact as in 2020. The measures taken to mitigate the risk of additional lost business or increase in costs due to COVID-19 is that all non-essential costs have been delayed/deferred, and discretionary expenditures such as travel, training, etc. has been eliminated. COVID-19 costs include both ongoing day to day service costs, as well as, restart/recover/rebuild costs.

At its meeting on January 13, 2021, the Toronto Police Services Board was in receipt of a report (December 29, 2021) from the Chief of Police with regard to the following budget requests:

- Toronto Police Service - 2021 Operating Budget Request;
- Toronto Police Service - 2021-2030 Capital Program Request;
- Toronto Police Service Parking Enforcement Unit - 2021 Operating Budget Request; and,
- Toronto Police Services Board - 2021 Operating Budget

At its meeting on December 10, 2020, the Executive Committee considered Item EX19.23 titled "Board’s Independent Review into Missing Persons Investigations Request to Extend Timeline and Increase Budget" and referred the item to the Budget Committee.

At its virtual meeting held on November 24, 2020, the Toronto Police Services Board (Board) was in receipt of a report, dated November 11, 2020, from Ryan Teschner, Executive Director & Chief of Staff, with respect to the above noted matter.

The Board approved the foregoing report and agreed to forward a copy to the City’s Executive Committee to allocate and transfer to the Board additional funding for the Review in an amount not to exceed $700,000, and request that such funds be made available to the Board as of the date of the request, and until the conclusion of the Review.

A copy of Board Minute No. P185/2020 regarding this matter is attached.