Centre For Local Research into Public Space (CELOS)
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You are on the [Councillors blindsided by city's rate hike for rinks] page of folder [Revenue 2008]
For the cover page of this folder go to the Globe And Mail: Councillors blindsided by city's rate hike for rinks
By: JENNIFER LEWINGTON
Published: FEBRUARY 5, 2008 AT 3:48 AM EST
Source: GLOBE AND MAIL"— A plan by city staff to raise recreation fees - including an 18.5-per-cent jump in the cost of ice time for youth and adult hockey - has surprised Toronto councillors and shocked local sports groups.
Yesterday, on the eve of a big public turnout expected today to comment on the $8.2-billion budget, councillors appeared to be caught off guard by a staff move to jack up permit fees to rent city facilities. Some said they grasped the impact of the proposal only by a close reading of background documents on the weekend, after the official budget launch.
The permit fee proposal is for an average increase of 21.5 per cent for city-owned ice rinks, sports fields and other facilities.
"It will be an issue for a broad number of councillors, including myself," said budget chief Shelley Carroll (Ward 33, Don Valley East). "We have some work to do there.""