2012 City Budget

► See the City's Business Plan and Budget webpage including the 2012 Budget Book (or click image).  

MIRANET STATEMENT (Municipal Finance Subcommittee): February 13, 2012. 
2012 OPERATING & CAPITAL BUDGETS: CITY OF MISSISSAUGA - No service cuts but big salary increases. 
Excerpt: "The 2012 City budget review and approval underscores that senior management has little incentive to control costs at City Hall.  With a projected increase of 9.7% for next years' tax-supported budget, MIRANET expects to promote more cost control measures, including reducing staff levels and contracting out some services.  We believe more can be done for less cost without reducing services.  However it remains to be seen whether Council is prepared to make the tough decisions."

STAFF & COUNCIL COMPENSATION:  Further to MIRANET's recommendations regarding compensation for City Staff and Council members, per Deputations below, we have been provided with the following documents:

► City of Mississauga Compensation Program: February 2012 (9p PDF), presented by City Manager Janice Baker at Council: Feb. 8, 2012.

► Report of the Appointed Citizens Task Force on Council Salaries and Benefits: February 1999 (47p PDF), as presented at Council: March 10, 1999.

► Minutes from the Council meeting: March 10, 1999 (7p PDF), concerning discussion of the above Report.

► Council Resolution 0070-1999 (March 10, 1999) (2p PDF) re Council salaries and benefits and calculation of future increases (still in effect).

BUDGET APPROVAL AT COUNCIL:  February 8, 2012. 
Re: Recommendations from Budget Committee: January 30, 2012. 
► Finalized Council RESOLUTION 0010-2012 (Feb. 8, 2012), indicating recorded votes on the Budget items including salaries.
► City Press Release (Feb. 8, 2012): City of Mississauga 2012 Capital and Operating Budgets Approved. 
► 2012 City of Mississauga Budget Fact Sheet. 

MIRANET DEPUTATIONS:  MIRANET reps conferred on the 2012 Budget information and provided the following input:

► MIRANET Deputation: February 8, 2012 - FULL TEXT (6p PDF)  OVERHEADS (4p PDF) re Council Salaries (comparative data with other major cities in Canada)
► MIRANET Deputation: January 25, 2012 - FULL TEXT (9p PDF)  OVERHEADS (11p PDF) with recommendations for cost-cutting
► 2010 SUNSHINE LIST (Mississauga staff making over $100,000) as cited in the Deputation.
► MIRANET Letter to the Mayor: January 27, 2012 (2p PDF) in response to the January 26 request
by the Mayor for MIRANET to elaborate on the Staffing Costs & Wages section in our January 25 Deputation.

Excerpt: As taxpayers observing escalating City tax increases of 5.8%, 7.4% and 9.7% (projected) over a three year period (2011, 2012, 2013), with debt assumed beginning 2012, these questions must be asked.  In view of the fact that 69% of the City’s gross operating budget pertains to staff salaries and wages, we have suggested that this would be a significant area of examination for cost savings.  

► MIRANET Letter to the City Manager: January 30, 2012 (2p PDF) in response to further information received re staff compensation.

► MIRANET Questions Related to the City’s Proposed 2012 Operating and Capital  Budgets were submitted to the City's Finance Director on December 19, 2011.  The answers to the seven (7) questions were received in the following documents:
        Letter: Jan. 13, 2012 (answers to questions 2,3,5-7)
        Letter: Jan. 20, 2012 (answers to questions 1,4)
        Report: Jan. 9, 2012 - Consultants hired in 2010 and 2011 (12p PDF - referenced in both letters).

► On December 12, 2011 the Budget Committee of Council heard a presentation from Finance Staff regarding the 2012 Budget Overview presentation (click to view - 65p PDF).  This was the first opportunity for citizens to learn about the 2012 Budget and the 7.4% tax increase which is proposed to support the City portion of the total property tax bill; see MIRANET summary below.

PUBLIC BUDGET MEETING:  January 11, 2012 @ 7-9 p.m. at CITY HALL in the COUNCIL CHAMBER.  Presentation and Discussion of the 2012 City of Mississauga and Region of Peel Budgets.  Public Q&A.  Ten (10) MIRANET member RAs were represented at the meeting. 
► Click for Press Release.
► Click to view the Region of Peel 2012 Budget.

MIRANET REPORT ON THE 2012 BUDGET OVERVIEW (December 12, 2011):

The Director of Finance presented the proposed 2012 Operating and Capital Budgets resulting in a budget increase of 7.4%, down from 10.8% as presented in June.  Combined with the expected increase for the Region of Peel, and the (static) education portion of the total tax bill, this will result in a net property tax increase of 2.8% in 2012.  Further adjustments may occur as a result of the detailed budget discussions due to continue on January 16, 2012. 

While the City's budget will increase by 5.3% to maintain existing service levels, and the Region's by 3.8%, it is noted that the Region benefits from a 1.7% reduction due to social program uploading to the Province and a forecast assessment growth of 1.8%, compared to 1.1% for Mississauga.  An infrastructure and debt financing levy of 2.0% is contained in the City's Budget, of which only 0.2% will be required to service the 2012 debt issue.  The balance will be credited to the infrastructure levy built into the Operating Budget, which currently stands at $21.7 million per annum.  

MIRANET acknowledged the improved budget outlook, but raised questions concerning the need to advance the debt financing program from 2013 to 2012 given that $132.0 million remains in the Capital Reserve funds.  MIRANET notes that $6.0 million of consulting fees are built into the 2011 and 2012 Capital Budgets respectively for studies related to the Hurontario LRT corridor. 

The Mayor asked MIRANET to consider additional powers of taxation for municipalities to be requested from senior levels of government.  Councillor Saito asked whether MIRANET had lobbied provincial or federal politicians for further powers of taxation.  We believe that lobbying other levels of government is more effective with knowledge of the City's position and we plan to suggest options and learn what Council would support.
                                                                -- MIRANET Municipal  Finance Subcommittee

► The City's Budget Committee (webpage with Agendas and presentations) is comprised of all members of Mississauga Council.  Meetings are OPEN TO THE PUBLIC and are held in the Council Chamber.  Members of the MIRANET Municipal Finance Subcommittee (MFS) have been attending all Budget Committee and Audit Committee meetings this year.

► See the City's Business Plan and Budget webpage including the 2012 Budget Book (or click image).  

MIRANET DEPUTATIONS / STATEMENTS / REPORTS ABOUT THE BUDGET PROCESS:

March 2, 2011:  MFS Report to the 2nd MIRANET AGM.

January 17, 2011:  Deputation.  Overhead outline.  Press Release.

February 17, 2010:  Report on meeting with Finance Staff.

February 3, 2010:  MFS Report to the 1st MIRANET AGM.

January 13, 2010:  Deputation.

March 4, 2009:  Statement.