After spending its first months in office cutting taxes and TTC routes, Toronto's budget team is asking residents what else they can cut in order to balance the books.
In the first of eight meetings to be held across the city, Torontonians were asked Tuesday night to tell the city what they'd put on the chopping block to try to make up the 2012 budget shortfall of $774 million.
They're also being encouraged to organize their own budget discussion parties, or participate by submitting comments online.
Participants are being asked to rate 35 city departments using one of the following designations: "necessary for our city," "less important" or "not required for the city."
"This topic is complex," says the city's website. "You'll be able to find summary and detailed information on each service, facts and figures about the City's budget and decision-making processes, and get ready to give us your advice."
The site will accept community input until June 17, with the final public meeting set for June 7.
Meanwhile, consultants costing the city a cool $3 million will make their own attempt at plucking excesses out of the municipal ledgers. Their assessment is expected in the fall, just in time for the 2012 budget season.
