Mayor Rob Ford and his executive committee are moving quickly to put their stamp on the city's administration, by starting the process of making the TTC an essential service.

Other proposals that will be put to a full city council later this month include:

  • axing the $60 vehicle registration tax
  • cutting councillors' office budgets
  • amending the driveway parking bylaw

The parking bylaw, part of a huge document that harmonized city bylaws, limits the number of cars that can be parked in driveways. During the civic election campaign, Ford admitted to voting for the proposal without having read the full document.

He vowed to have the bylaw changed if he became elected mayor.

But the most heated debate focused on the move to end the vehicle registration tax.

Councillors opposed to Ford's fiscal approach criticized the decision to move so quickly to end the unpopular tax -- a key Ford campaign promise. City officials have estimated it will cost the city $64 million in revenue.

"It's basically making very, very big decisions on the back of a paper napkin in a coffee shop," said Coun. Anthony Peruzza (Ward 8, York West).

Coun. Janet Davis (Ward 31, Beaches-East York) thought it was foolish to cut revenues without any discussion of how it will be made up in the city's budget.

"I believe we should be fully informed about how this money is going to be made up," she told reporters. "And I think our residents should know the impact of these decisions as well."

However, members of the executive committee -- who all agreed to support Ford's priorities -- weren't swayed. They voted unanimously to kill the tax.

"So when Coun. Davis and other councillors say, 'Where is this money going to come from,' it's because we don't know where the money went," said Coun. Denzil Minnan-Wong (Ward 34, Don Valley East). "And that's one of the reasons people are so angry about this tax."

Added Coun. David Shiner (Ward 24, Willowdale): "We've put a stake in the heart of the vampire that used to suck the blood of the residents in the form of this tax -- and it's going."

The executive committee voted to cut councillors' office budgets down to $30,000 from $50,445. However, the average expenditure in 2009 was about $38,000.

All of Thursday's decisions will go to a full meeting of city council on Dec. 16.

Besides the changes, Ford wants to have city council vote on a 2011 budget by the end of February. Councillors have objected, saying that doesn't give them enough time for a full review or to consult with constituents.

In a news release, Ford said he wants to start the 2012 budget process in late April, with the goal being to have the budget in place before new spending begins on Jan. 1, 2012.

"The new process will have four public consultation sessions, double the amount in previous years, and we will be going into all four corners of the city," he said.

With a report from CTV Toronto's Alicia Markson