As the gravy stains continue to be washed from the linens at city hall, a series of user fee hikes is being considered that could cost the average Toronto family hundreds of dollars a year.
Toronto's budget committee will consider on Monday several user fee reports that recommend increases to scores of city services.
City hall has already enacted a 10 cent increase to transit fares – worth $30 million to public coffers in 2012 alone.
Other fee hikes being considered include admission prices at city landmarks and museums, CPR courses, zoning by-law amendments, ice rink rentals and golf course green fees.
Many of the increases are incremental at best – day-long parking at a city-owned lot in North York would go from $21.48 to $22.12 – while others would result in a major out-of-pocket difference.
The report, for example, recommends boosting the base feel for zoning by-law amendments from $6,317.86 to $15,621.30. Other fees charged by the city planning department could see increases of hundreds of dollars.
User fee increases would also impact childhood gymnastics classes, ferry rides to the Toronto Islands, visiting the Toronto Zoo at peak hours and taking adult skating classes through the parks and recreation department.
The proposed budget would also introduce fees at community centres in "priority" neighbourhoods, which could result in many children dropping courses.
"User fee increases always result in less people using services," said Coun. Paula Fletcher, adding that Toronto has always tried to keep fees low for that reason.
The budget committee is set to discuss the user fee increases on Monday, before the recommendations go in front of city council during the Jan. 17-19 budget session.
City activists suggested this week that the proposed user fee increases, combined with a planned 2.5 per cent property tax hike, would cost a typical family using city services an extra $797.36 a year.
With files from CTV Toronto's Ashley Rowe. Follower her on Twitter at @AshleyRoweCTV.
