Mayor Rob Ford said Wednesday that he's acting on campaign promises, including stamping out graffiti, but admits that Torontonians might end up paying more for water and garbage in 2011.
"We are going to review everything. We are absolutely going to review the garbage fees, the water fees. I wish I could say I will hold the line on them, but I can't promise anything until I have a thorough look at it," Ford said.
"Again, I've only been on the job for 21 days, and I have done a lot in 21 days."
Ford said his intention is to hold the line on other fees as well, but defended what he has done so far to save taxpayers’ money.
"I'm coming in with a zero-per-cent tax increase. I've already given back to tax payers $60 million,” he said, referring to the axing of the unpopular $60 vehicle registration tax.
“I'm not tooting my own horn, but it is more than any mayor has done in the first year, never mind 21 days. I'm sure the people will be happy with my performance at the end of four years,” he said.
CTV reported Tuesday that the city will likely be raising water rates in 2011, in part to pay for decaying infrastructure.
Coun. Denzil Minnan-Wong, who chairs the works committee, said Tuesday that the annual nine-per-cent increase will be very difficult to avoid.
"We have to make sure that when people turn their tap on or flush their toilet, that the system is reliable."
Garbage collection fees may go up three per cent, which Minnan-Wong said will be less than one dollar per month. The city may make other changes.
In the longer term, Ford has said he wants to open garbage collection up to bidding as a way to reduce costs and avoid strikes such as the 39-day walkout that hit Toronto in 2009.
When Ford assumed the mayor's office at the start of December, he promised to freeze Toronto's property tax next year -- which wasn't a promise made during the campaign.
During the municipal election campaign that ended with his victory on Oct. 25, Ford did promise to hold property tax increases to the rate of inflation.
Ford has acted to cut the cost of government since taking office, but the full picture won’t be known until the city tables its capital and operating budgets.
In the first council meeting under his reign, councillors voted to cut their expense accounts by nearly half to $30,000 -- although they were only actually spending about $38,000 on average.
Besides supporting Ford’s call to eliminate the vehicle tax, council also voted to request the province declare the TTC an essential service.
Graffiti
Ford revealed he has dispatched 10 bylaw enforcement officers to crack down on graffiti.
One area of attention is Spadina Avenue.
Bylaw officers handed out notices to property owners that they had 14 days to clean up graffiti on their buildings. Otherwise, the city will come in with a contractor, remove the graffiti -- and bill the property owner.
But usually owners do act to remove the graffiti, said city official Joe Magalhaes.
Complaints about graffiti on public property will be referred to the appropriate agencies. For example, Canada Post will be asked to deal with any tagged mailboxes.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Alicia Markson
