The city's 2017 budget talks kicked off Friday with proposed increases to the costs of garbage collection and water, but the latter could be going up less than in previous years. Gary Crawford, Mayor John Tory's budget chief, told council's budget committee Friday morning. While a rate increase may seem at odds with a budget surplus, Lou Di Gironimo, the general manager of Toronto Water, said increases aren't tied to the department's annual needs. Currently, downsizing a garbage bin is free. The department defended the increases, saying they are necessary to maintain an aging garbage fleet and to move away from going into debt to fund garbage collection.

Source: CBC News November 04, 2016 21:10 UTC