[URBAN NOTE] "$80M TTC budget hike not quite at ‘record’ level "
The Toronto Star's Ben Spurr takes issue with John Tory's contention that this budget's 80 million dollar increase in the TTC budget is the largest in the organization's history.
Mayor John Tory has hailed this year’s TTC budget as a “record investment” in the public transit system.
But does the 2017 spending plan really represent a historic achievement for the TTC?
In a speech to council midway through Wednesday’s marathon meeting to finalize the 2017 city budget, Tory noted that the operating subsidy that the city gives to the transit agency was set to increase by $80 million this year. It will rise to about $690 million, compared to the $610 million budgeted for in 2016.
“Eighty million dollars is maybe not the all-time record increase, but it’s maybe the second biggest in all the recent years, and maybe ever,” he said.
However, it appears that despite Tory’s statement, this year’s funding increase may not even be the largest of his term.
Mayor John Tory has hailed this year’s TTC budget as a “record investment” in the public transit system.
But does the 2017 spending plan really represent a historic achievement for the TTC?
In a speech to council midway through Wednesday’s marathon meeting to finalize the 2017 city budget, Tory noted that the operating subsidy that the city gives to the transit agency was set to increase by $80 million this year. It will rise to about $690 million, compared to the $610 million budgeted for in 2016.
“Eighty million dollars is maybe not the all-time record increase, but it’s maybe the second biggest in all the recent years, and maybe ever,” he said.
However, it appears that despite Tory’s statement, this year’s funding increase may not even be the largest of his term.