London city budget hears feedback from 45 Londoners [Video]

Council faces tough choices when it looks to balance the budget later this week.

On Tuesday, 45 Londoners took part in a public participation meeting to voice their priorities for municipal spending amid another anticipated property tax hike.

“The city’s budgetary decisions send a message, intentional or not, about the value placed on the nonprofit sector,” said Maureen Cassidy, CEO of Pillar Nonprofit Network.

Cassidy urged council to reinstate the full funding for Capital, Innovation, and Grassroots grants and to anchor this funding to a stable tax base rather than reserve fund balances.

Others spoke about the financial burden faced by homeowners living on fixed incomes if council doesn’t reduce the 7.4 per cent tax rate increase in the mayor’s draft budget.

However, the vast majority of delegates implored council to make a greater financial commitment to addressing homelessness, including support to continue year-round shelter services operated by Ark Aid …