posted February 04, 2008

CELOS research on the 2008 Budget Three big problems with this budget: contradictory numbers, hidden expenditures, and poor revenue tools.

posted September 10, 2007

Parks and Recreation Operating Budgetary Trends This report explores the trends in expenditure, revenue, and staffing of the City of Toronto’s Parks and Recreation Department (now called Parks, Forestry and Recreation) for the years 1991 through 2007.

posted January 31, 2008

Increased Recreation user fees Higher user fees proposed in a new report from Parks, Forestry and recreation staff, called "Everybody gets to play." Although a joke is already making the rounds, calling this approach “everybody gets to pay,” the report is not all about cost increases.

posted August 20, 2007

2007 Budget Math From the CELOS Research Group Both the City and Parks Forestry and Recreation have real problems, but look at management payroll for some answers.

posted September 5, 2007

Better Budget Cuts 25 Managers of Parks Forestry and Recreation make more than $100K per year, some of questionable purpose, yet the line staff are considered "disposable". We have some suggestions.

posted September 10, 2007

Parks and Recreation Capital budget stories An inside look at a few years' of capital expenditures by Parks, Foresty and Recreation - and how some of that money is actually directed to operating costs. Meanwhile, Toronto's debt is increasing.

posted February 04, 2008

The Park Levies Story There’s a development fee called a “park levy,” which is supposed to come to a park when multiple new housing units are added at once in a neighborhood. Where does that money go? Here's a city background file regarding park levies.

Liability - The ghost in the room

posted December 19, 2007

Liability in Parks