| 2012 Budget | Staff Proposed 2013 | My Proposed 2013 | |
| Culture | 21.9 | 22.3 | 22.3 |
| Economic Prosperity | 8.4 | 8.4 | 8.4 |
| Environmental Services | 16.4 | 16.5 | 16.6 |
| Parks, Rec & Neighbourhoods | 28.2 | 28.2 | 28.5 |
| Planning | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.9 |
| Protective Services | 145.6 | 152.9 | 151.4 |
| Social and Health | 71.3 | 68.4 | 69.4 |
| Transporation | 53.6 | 54.8 | 55.5 |
| Corporate and Operations | 117.2 | 122.4 | 121.3 |
| 467.4 | 478.9 | 478.3 |
This budget proposal is premised upon the following avoidance or acceptance of reductions as offered by staff.
Highlights of Reductions Avoided:
- Cuts to Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Program
- Cuts to social or affordable housing
- Elimination of green bins
- Moratorium on new bike paths
- Reductions to library services
- Reduction of sidewalk plowing
- Increased recreation service fees
- Reduced investment in London CAReS
- Reduction to Middlesex London Health Unit
- Staff reductions (approximately 18 jobs saved)
- Elimination of double decker bus tours
- Cuts to Downtown BIA
Highlights of Reductions/Revenues Accepted:
- Reduced economic development funds
- Increased service fees and fence fees
- Deferral of Fire Service training tower move
- Reduced contribution to Urban Works Reserve Fund
- Fire Services service review
- Reduction in capital grant program
- Reduction in brownfield studies
- Deferral of “In Motion” funding
This budget is also premised on the following reductions not proposed by staff:
Reduction of the increase to Police Services from 3.6% to 2.0%
Other budget reductions for consideration would be changing the Development Charge Exemption for industrial from 100% to some other percentage to be determined, and reviewing the fast-tracking of Storm Water Management Ponds for greenfield development. Either of these could bring us to 0%, but are of a complexity to calculate that is a bit beyond me.
Overall, I am proposing a 2.3% increase to municipal property taxes, which equates to a $55/year increase for your average property owner, or less than $5/month. This is the cost of saving housing, bus services, libraries, green bins, etc. A cost I hope most would be willing to pay.
Update: With changes in assessment growth, my proposal revises to a 1.8% increase.
Update 2: Thank you to the sharp eye of Nathan Smith, I have revised my reduction to the Police Services budget. I had proposed this believing that they were still adding 16 new officers, but the 3.6% increase includes deferring this new hiring. Leaving the Police at 3.6% brings the proposal back closer to my original over 2.3%.