Rocco Rossi for Mayor of Toronto Policy Book

8/8/2019 Rocco Rossi for Mayor of Toronto Policy Book

1/21

Together We Can

Bring ChangeTo City Hall


2/21

Spedig t Cit Hll isOut o Cotrol. TorontoCant Go On Like This

What is Wrong

with City Hall?

THE PROBLEMI began this campaign by talking about the need

to bring responsibility back to the way we run our

Citys finances.

As with any household, the City cannot continue

to spend more than it takes in. But I understand that

Toronto cannot cut its way to greatness. Its not all

about penny pinching. The reason we need to get

value for our money is because we want to have

money to spend on the values we believe in.

THE aCTS aRE nOT PRETTy:

On average, for the past 7 years, City Hall spending has

been growing by just under 6% a year but our ability

to pay for it with property tax has been growing by only

3% a year.

That 3% gap explains the annual struggle tobalance the budget. Budget pressures cause City Hall

to put off the programs and services we need today.

They prevent us from making long term investments.

City Councils failure to address this gap has

damaged its credibility with other levels of government.

This is simply unsustainable. The Board of Trade warns

that unless we fix the gap, Torontos deficit will grow

to $1.194 billion by 2019. (The Growing Chasm: An

Analysis and Forecast o the City o Torontos Finances.)

If that were to happen, it could only lead to drastic cuts

in services, huge tax increases and a decline of our city.

Toronto is a wealthy city. If City Hall is properly

managed, we can afford the services we need. But

right now we have two big problems:

Torontos politicians spend too much.

Torontos politicians do not deliver value for money.

Spedig hs icresed verge 5.9% er

10000

9000

8000

7000

6000

5000

4000

3000

2000

1000

02002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Spending

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3/21

Steps TowrdsTHE IXI will get Torontos fiscal house in order and restore

Torontos fiscal credibility with taxpayers and with

other levels of government.

Well use the savings to invest in priorities we allshare, like serving underserved communities and

expanding public transit.

How?Tinkering around the edges of a $9.2 billion operating

budget will not get Toronto to a better place. I will

tackle the problem:

1.Ledership Strts t the Top

2. Get Cit Costs Uder Cotrol

3. Reduce Cit Debt to allow us to

Ivest i Irstructure

4. Reorm the Budget Process

5. Gettig Our Ow House i Order

1. Ledership Strtst the Top

I will set ul efciec svigs trgets.

The Board of Trade estimates that the City of

Toronto could save $100 millionif it was to

achieve 10% efficiencies on its billion dollar

annual purchasing budget.

To achieve these goals will require a motivated

team, and getting the most out of a team requires

authentic leadership.

I pledge to cut my own salary by 10% and freeze it

for the duration of my term as mayor.

I will request that all councillors do the same.

I will pledge to honour the goal set by the Province of

Ontario of no new pay raises for non-union staff, and

have that as a starting point for all union negotiations.

2. Get Cit CostsUder Cotrol

Order an independent, 3rd party, sweeping audit

of all City finances.

Freeze all discretionary spending.

No more sole sourcing on City contracts.

Get wges i lie:

I will find the right balance between a fair wage for

our workers and fair value for taxpayers.

I will not ask taxpayers to subsidize wage increases

three times what they themselves are receiving.

Personnel expenses are nearly 50% of

expenditures growing by 6.5% a year on

average. I will reverse this trend.

ix the ices o

the Cit o Toroto

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4/21

The Must Do RecommendationsProposed by Torontos Board o Trade(Toronto Board of Trade: Bridging the Chasm: Fixing the Citys Finances Final Recommendations)

Existing collective agreements must be honoured,

but as they expire there will be opportunities for

reinventing service levels and costs. By 2015,

Toronto would:

Sve over $133 millio a year by redesigning

service to take advantage of vacancies arising from

retirement.

Sve over $50 millio a year by reducing the costper tonne of household waste collection to 125%

of the average of other GTA regional municipalities

contracted waste collection services. This would

be implemented in 2014 and 2015 -- the first two

years of a new collective agreement for City staff.

Sve over $63 millio by reducing the size of

the TTC and general workforce by 4% over 2 years

and keeping the average increase in costs to only

3% (rather than the current 6%). This would be

implemented between 2011 and 2015 .

Sve over $68 millio by limiting the increase in

costs of Police Services to only 3% per year, rather

than the current 6%. This would be implemented

between 2011 and 2015.

Sve over $46 millio a year (over 4 years) by

opening services to competition by qualified service

providers.

Sve over $100 millio a year by achieving a

10% savings on City procurement.

4

These mesures would deliver $460 millio

ull b 2015. Tht wot get us the whole

w but the re the right strt i the right

res, d I m committed to deliverig these

svigs t miimum. The will get

our ow house i order d

llow us to better egotite

with the provicil d

ederl govermets.

Rocco Rossi


5/21

The most important skill I can bring

to you as Mayor is my experience

overseeing large organizations.

You cant fx City Halls fnancial

problems i you cant read a balance

sheet. You have to know how to pick

priorities, deliver on deadlines and

on budget. I will lead employees with

a positive vision.

My business and non-profit

leadership experience includes:

The Boston Consulting Group

Torstar Corporation

Labatt/Interbrew

Advanced Material

Resources Inc.

MGI Software

The Heart & Stroke

Foundationof Ontario

Rocco Rossi is busiessm,

ot proessiolpolitici.

continued rom page 3

Hirig reeze:

Freeze hiring: Right now, our City workforce has a 6% turnover every

year. By keeping half of these positions vacant, within two years it will

lower the budget by over $250 million dollars.

Re-ivet the w we deliver services.

Work with City employees and union leadership to change the way we

work. Nothing will reduce the cost of government like productivity gains!

In the 21st century why do we have people in booths collecting paper

tickets and tokens at the TTC?

Why do we have the highest cost to collect household waste in the GTA?

I will pursue outsourcing, managed competition and alternative servicedelivery for services like waste collection, road repairs and parks and

recreation.

I will invite all qualified bidders -- including unions -- to compete for the

right to deliver services at a price we can afford.

Opportunity to save over $46 millionper year through managed

competition of non-essential services.

Contracted waste collection could save up to $50 millionper year.

Steps Towrds THE IX

3. Reduce Cit Debt to allow usto Ivest i Irstructure

The Cit o Toroto curretl ps bout $450 millio ech er to

service its debt (iterest d pricipl).

At an average annual increase of 14.6% between 2002 and 2008, this

particular expense is growing faster than any other incurred by the City.

I will pay down the debtby monetizing some or all of Toronto Hydro,

selling a minority share in Enwave, and selling or leasing surplus land.

The City owns approximately $18 billion dollars in land holdings.

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Steps TowrdsTHE IX

4. Reorm the BudgetProcess

Torontos challenges are long term challenges but

Toronto has a one-year operating budget. The annual

budget process is divorced from any long term plan.

We will never fix Torontos finances if we do not start

planning for the long term.

I will introduce multi-er budgetig to improve

the focus of Council on long term issues. Multi-

year budgeting will make it easier for the public to

hold accountable the Mayor, Council and staff for

performance over the term of Council.

I will formally link the ew budget plig

process to the log term strtegic pl of

Council, to ensure that budget decisions are made

in the context of Torontos strategic plan. This

includes combiig the opertig d

cpitl budgets.

Over 30% of spending is in the control of over

a hundred agencies, boards, commissions and

corporations. In this bottom up system, each

entity prepares its own budget and passes it up

for approval. Because of this, your City has little

influence over almost 30% of the spending it funds.

I will replace this bottom up budget making with

a balanced approach that puts what Toronto can

afford in proper balance with what the agency

needs. This will make spending more accountable

to the public.

LABOUR

COSTS

614,578.1

500,000

0

651,883.1 661,968.8

+4%

($)

OUTSIDE WORKERS

2009 PROJECTEDACTUALS

2010 BUDGET 2011 OUTLOOK

or those who s moetizigssets is o the tble, I simplsk: How re ou goig to delwith the debt? Rocco Rossi

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7/217

5. Get Our Ow Housei OrderToronto must do a better job of fixing its own

problems before we can get the help we need

from other governments.

We simply cannot expect other levels of government

to bail out Toronto, until we have done everything to

fix our own finances.

Some people say that Torontos money woes are

too big to fix with better management. The facts

say otherwise.

From 2002 to 2009, Torontos politicians allowed

labour costs to increase an average of 6.5% per year.

But during this time, private sector wage growth

and growth in the GDP hovered around 2%.

If at the bargaining table the rate of increase was

held to just 3%, Toronto would have saved $380

million dollars per year.

This would have virtually eliminated the shortfall

this year.

We must put our ow house iorder frst. We ct sk the uiosto ud tx cuts or reezes either.

Rocco Rossi

The inequality of asking taxpayers tofund benefits much more generous than

they themselves enjoy was recognized

in the 2009 municipal workers strike.

TORONTO BOARD OF TRADE The Growing Chasm:An Analysis and Forecast o the City o TorontosFinances


8/21

REaL CHanGE nOT SMaLL CHanGE.

Rocco Rossis actio Pl:ices

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9/21

Beware: Some proessional politicians are

oering immediate property tax reezes or cuts as

the solutions. Thats the same vote or me trick

that helped get Toronto into the mess its in now.

We have to control

our spending.

Thats the path to a

responsible budget.

Existing collective

agreements will be

honoured, but as

they expire, there willbe opportunities or

reinventing service

levels and costs.

My plan will fx the budget without the

need or big tax hikes or major service cuts.Only I have committed to all these actions and they are just a start. All the other ideasby all the other candidates are small changeby comparison.

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Steps Towrds THE IXSvigs Roccos Pl to trim $460 Millio

rom the budget b 2015

$264M Respect all existing labour agreements, butmanage vacancies, and hold increases in newagreements to 3% (down from the current 6%).

$100M By achieving a 10% savings on Cityprocurement. (Others have estimated that thisopportunity could be as high as $200 million).

$50M Reduce the cost per tonne of householdwaste collection to 125% of the average of

other GTA regional municipalities contractedwaste collection services through outsourcing/managed competition.

$46M Competition for appropriate non-essentialservices.

note: Two additional key steps will be a principle-based agreement with the Province on

TTC operating funding and reform of future pension benefits for new employees.


10/21

Rocco Rossis actio Pl:Trsit

We need tobuild now.My Trsit Cit Plus

plan commits $4.5 billion over

10 years, in addition to provincial

and federal commitments.

This allows us to:

Build 2km o subw plus a new station

each year in addition to what provincial

and federal funds will build.

Better and rpid bus service.

Implement a regiol sstem:

TTC to cooperate with Metrolinx to give

you better service across the GTA.

Implement the Presto Smrt Crd: no

more paper tickets, tokens or transfers.

Appoint a ew TTC Bord comprised of

experts and citizens, not politicians.

Trsit Cit Plus

We have the best 1970s transit system inthe world. The problem is that its 2010.

Were getting over 500,000 new people in the next twenty years

in the city, and many more in the region as a whole. Thats either a

abulous economic opportunity or a recipe or total gridlock disaster.

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11/21

Moving you faster means a balanced system

drivers, cyclists, transit users, pedestrians all have

to work together. M pl:

Separate, safe and integrated bike network that

includes four ew mjor dowtow bike

les separated from traffic by a curb. Remove

the recently installed bike lane on Jarvis which is

dangerous.

Rpid bridge replcemet program as is done

elsewhere in Ontario. It reduces installation of new

bridges down to days as opposed to months, hence

ending traffic congestion due to construction.

Expert study examining the feasibility and cost of

likig b tuel the Allen Expressway with the

Gardiner/Lakeshore. Almost half of all Torontonians

support the Tunnel. Im suggesting that we study it

first, then proceed accordingly.

Appoint Costructio Czr to ensure that all

projects are completed on budget and on time.

Support a fxed likto the Island Airport.

Invest in improvements at ke itersectios.

Improve siglig with better traffic light

coordination.

I will nOT ter dow the Grdier.

How do we p or it?

Currently, Toronto pays $450 million a year in

interest charges on its long term debt.

If we monetize certain assets we have now, like

Enwave, Toronto Hydro, and surplus land we can raise

enough money to pay off that debt. This would free

up the $450 million we pay now in interest charges

on the longterm debt, to invest in subways. This is the

only realistic plan to invest now in the transit plan we

desperately need.

Does the Cit eed to ow ssets like Toroto

Hdro? There is nothing Toronto needs more than

subways to fix our long term gridlock problem.

Building subways today will give us a solution for

the next 100 years. Hydro rates are set by the

Province and not by local utilities.

Movig you ster

Torontonians want subways, and as their Mayor,I will deliver.

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12/21

Rocco Rossis actio Pl: or a Better Toroto

Build d stregthe Toroto d the GTa s

sector hubs, ledig the world i the res o:

Financial services

State-of-art engineering

Biomedical

Arts/culture

IT and communications

Design/architecture

Universities/colleges

Efficient government will make Toronto more attractive

for job-creation. I know from first-hand experience

as a business leader that large companies invest in

regions not municipalities. As your Mayor, I will:

Lead the region to create Ivest GTa.

Bring much needed jobs to Toronto and the region,

and to compete internationally as a team.

Lead the strongest Busiess advisor Coucil in

the country to represent the GTA as a competitive

economic region.

Jobs d Ivestmet

We must communicate our strength tothe world. We need a real strategy to ostersmall business job growth rom within.

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13/21

a Ser Cit

I believe that a sae city starts with keepingkids in the classrooms and community centresand away rom guns and gangs.

Crete ser commuities d streets b:

idig svigs on the administrative side of the police services budget

(cleaning, maintenance etc).

Redeploy officers into communities and away from traffic court by implementing

an o-lie d mil-i ppel process or trfc tickets.

Reduce tensions between parking enforcement officers and drivers by

implementing a te miute grce period t prkig meters.

Take a tougher pproch o bil complice: redeploy officers

to address the problem of catch and release.

Work with police and communities to expand the

use of police cmers i problem res.

Implement a zero tolerce policy for

pan handling.

Take a tougher pproch on graffiti

and tagging.

Champion a ederl b o hdgus.

Support the Toronto Police Chiefs call to

keep the ederl gu registr.

Transform the 16 identified

underutilized schools into ull service

eighbourhood commuit cetres.

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14/21

Rocco Rossis actio Pl: or a Better Toroto

a Cit Built or Everoe

Our city cannot achieve its ull economic potential

without newcomers. I support and encourage

immigrants and newcomers to Toronto, and

welcome the talents, skills, innovation and

entrepreneurial spirit they bring. Rocco Rossi

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15/2115

Rocco Rossis Rel Chge.

Toroto Good Ides ud (TGI), includes a

City Hall Suggestion Box and web/phone access

designed to engage Torontonians in sharing their

ideas for a better, more efficient, more responsive

City Hall.

Commence a global search for the next Chie

Pler who will report directly to the Mayor.

Appoint a Plig Ombudsm to end

costly disputes.

More secodr zoig pls to help plan for

smart growth that respects neighbourhoods.

Pool 50% of Section 37 fees into a new Cit

Builders ud to develop projects in Torontos

priority neighbourhoods.

Build an Evets Mster Pl to sustain and

grow top-tier events.

Revisit the Hrmoized B-lw to allow for

greater flexibility for neighbourhoods

and businesses.

Shre Heritge uds with the entire city,

not just downtown.

Raise Cretive Cit arts and culture investments

to $25 per capita.

Champion the cause of making the Rouge Vlle

tiol prk.

Partner with the Toronto District School Board on

a log-term cpitl pl for pools and other

recreational facilities.

ull ud Cit pools and other recreation

amenities right through the summer.

Create a discout TTC pss for citizens who

receive social assistance.

Fast-track the TTCs plan for a ull-ccessible

subw system by four years.


16/21

Rocco Rossis actio Pl:Democrtic Reorm

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17/21

Recall is my guarantee to you. I will

do as I say. I am a businessman, not a

professional politician. Toronto has never

before elected a Mayor who was not a

professional politician. It is time to take a

business approach to running the City.

Rel Chge, Rocco Rossi stle

Right to Recll: allows voters to

recall politicians in between elections

in cases where they break public trust

and dont deliver on promises.

Reduce size o coucil to 22, and add 4 Deput Mors elected at large rom ech borough to create

a ew Bord o Cotrol to manage priorities. New council size 26 and Mayor = 27. This goverce plmkes Coucil more efciet, d esures tht ech corer o the cit hs strog represettio

t the highest levels. The Deputy Mayors/Board of Control will be appointed on day one when taking office

rather than waiting until the next election for it to take effect.

O-lie d phoe votig for next election to improve voter turnout and get all Torontonians more engaged.

Term limits - 2 term max for Mayor, 3 term max for Councillor.

RESPECT, RECaLL:REaL CHanGE.Im the only candidate with a plan or recall and term

limits. Im the only candidate with a paid-or plan to

improve gridlock and get the city moving. I already have

a plan to deliver $460 million a year in savings by 2015-- and I wont stop there.

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18/2118

Rocco Rossis actio Pl:icil Summr

THE PROBLEMThe bad news is that Toronto staff forecast that the

new Council will have to find $503 million in cuts or

new revenue to balance the budget for 2011.

The good news is that last year, Torontos budget

process started with an $821 million shortfall

and ended in a surplus.

Toronto needs more help from the province and

from labour unions to make our city more financially

viable. But, we cannot expect that help until we get

our own house in order. We also cannot expect to get

the help we need if it is to fund tax freezes or cuts.

THE IXMy plan shows how to balance the 2011 Budget

with or without a new deal on provincial funding for

the TTC.

Blcig the Budget i 2011Torontos Fiscal Crisis:The bad news and the good news

a. Expected Gp: 2011:Structurl Budget rmework

1. Initial budget pressure $503

2. Property Tax Stabilization Reserve less $76

3. Projected year end surplus (2010) less $150

4. Expected Gp or 2011 budget = 277

B. new Cit Reveue 2011

5. Increased Property Tax Revenue 109

6. Totl new Reveue 109

C. Restrit Mesures

7. Existing City Savings Targets 56

8. Further Restraint Strategies Neededto balance budget 136

9. Totl Restrit Mesures 192

D. new Progrms

10. Total Rossi New Investments 24

E. Cotiget Reveues

11. Wished-for Provincial TTC Contribution 100-250

. Summr - Eds o the SpectrumIf no Contingent If ContingentRevenue Revenue realized

A. Gap for 2011 Budget -277 -277

B. New Revenue +109 +109

C. Total RestraintMeasures +192 +192

D. Rossi Investments -24 -24

E. Contingent Revenue 0 100-250

12. Totls Blced Surplus:100-250

Notes

1. From City 2010 Budget.


3. From City Operating Variance Report (June 2010).5. From City 2010 Budget (assessment growth and tax increase geared to

inflation).

6. Unlike Smitherman plan, does not assume provincial contribution. See E.


8. Initiatives needed in year one to balance budget using a ttrition, freezingdiscretionary spending, expanding outsourcing, and procurement improvements.

9. Unlike Smitherman Plan, does not include reckless capital from currentmeasures.

10. Includes Arts Funding Increase fully implemented in Year one; and otherpledges implemented over time.

11. The range represents hopeful projections made by Mr. Smitherman andby City Council. I will negotiate with The Province to assume a principal-based share of TTC operating costs. Until agreement is reached, any suchcontribution should be treated only as contingent revenue. Clearly, provincewill not fund a surplus. So really a longer term funding priority.

($ = Millios)


19/21

Two Chllegesixig the iscl Gp2011-2014: LogerTerm Mesures But just because the budget balanced, it does

not mean that everything is fine.

Balancing the Budget in 2011 is just the first

task. The unsustainable revenue gap will get

worse unless we take steps to make over the

way we deliver services.

Long term savings measures will deliver

structural change to the city and deliver over

$460 million dollars worth of savings by 2015.

1. ix the aulBudget Crisis First in 2011

And then permanently

2. Strt Buildig agi

We need to fix the finances so we caninvest in the things we value like

fixing gridlock and investing in priority

eighbourhoods while slowing the

growth of taxes and service fees.

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Usustible Reveue Gp($Millio)

Unsustainable Revenue Gap

1000

900

800

700

600

500

400

300200

100

0

Steps TowrdsTHE IXSvigs Roccos Pl to trim $460 Millio

rom the budget b 2015

$264M Respect all existing labour agreements, butmanage vacancies, and hold increases in newagreements to 3% (down from the current 6%).

$100M By achieving a 10% savings on Cityprocurement. (Others have estimated that thisopportunity could be as high as $200 million).

$50M Reduce the cost per tonne of household

waste collection to 125% of the average ofother GTA regional municipalities contractedwaste collection services through outsourcing/managed competition.

$46M Competition for appropriate non-essentialservices.

THE PROBLEM

note: Two additional key steps will be a principle-based agreement with the Province on

TTC operating funding and reform of future pension benefits for new employees.

19


20/21

Contact the Campaign Office

185 Avenue Road

Toronto, Ontario M5R 2J2

(416) 848-6005

website: www.roccorossi.com

cebook: facebook.com/roccorossi

Twitter: twitter.com/roccothevoteTO

Likedi: linkedin.com/in/roccorossi

youtube: youtube.com/roccoformayor

lickr: flickr.com/photos/roccorossi

you C Be a Prt

o Rel Chge -VOTE ROCCO ROSSI OR MayOR

20

I believe that entering politics shouldbe a calling to public service, not just

another job or career. My philosophy is:

get elected - get the job done -

then move aside and let new people

with resh ideas serve the public.

-Rocco Rossi


21/21

Together We CanBring ChangeTo City Hall

Now andfor Future

GenerationsCampaign Office

185 Avenue Road

Toronto, Ontario M5R 2J2

(416) 848-6005

website: www.roccorossi.com

Facebook: facebook.com/roccorossi

Twitter: twitter.com/roccothevoteTO

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/roccorossi

Youtube: youtube.com/roccoformayor

Flickr: flickr.com/photos/roccorossi

Documents

Rocco Rossi for Mayor of Toronto Policy Book