Paul Moloney writing Monday night in the Toronto Star says that Toronto’s property taxes are going to rise a bit more than earlier proposed, to add a few spending items and account for the impacts of reassessment and council tax policy. He writes that after originally pegging the increase at 1.95 per cent, the budget committee Monday boosted that to an even 2 percent. The difference is enough to raise an extra $1.15 million that will provide:
• $500,000 in increased grants to community service agencies.
• $300,000 more to local arts organizations.
• $75,000 to Toronto Botanical Gdns, which ended 2011 $198,000 in the red.
• $30,000 to help lawn bowling clubs.
• $17,800 extra for student nutrition.
• $227,200 still to be allocated.
