Mayor Rob Ford appeared before his executive committee Thursday asking for their support in passing what he calls a "reasonable, responsible and smart" city budget for 2012.
The budget, which will include $86-million in cuts and a 2.5 per cent tax increase, is a toned down version of what Ford had originally proposed in November.
Library branches will not be closed as originally thought, though hours could be slashed as the city seeks a further $4 million in budget reductions from the library board.
A variety of school-based community centres and student nutrition programs that were on the chopping block in November have also been saved and the 35 wading pools the city originally planned to close now stand at just five.
On Thursday a motion to reverse $1.9 million in cuts to arts and culture funding was also passed.
"There has been a lot of fear-mongering about this budget, but the reality is that this is a reasonable, responsible budget," Ford said in his prepared opening remarks, released on the city's website Thursday morning. "The modest changes in this budget will adjust our spending to a sustainable level."
The 2012 budget will use $80 million from the city's reserves, down from the $346 million Ford used to balance the 2011 budget.
In his remarks Thursday, Ford said the city would no longer have to dip into its savings to balance budgets come 2013.
"That is an amazing accomplishment, but we will only achieve it if we stay the course this year," he said.
The budget process has been fraught with controversy for Ford, who heard from 1,142 constituents at 12 public meetings, most of whom said they were upset with planned service cuts.
Coun. Adam Vaughan, a member of council's left-leaning faction, told CP24 that the budget being discussed today is much better than the one originally presented on Nov. 28.
"As councillors have sculpted it and changed it from the way presented by the mayor it has become more responsible and it has become more responsive to the citizens of this city," he said.
Vaughan, however, stopped short of calling the budget "smart."
"I would disagree that it is a smart budget," he said. "The resources are still on the table and there is an opportunity to protect services that matter to this city."
In an interview with CP24, Budget Chief Mike Del Grande defended the cuts still in the budget, including a plan to reduce the city's workforce by 2,300 through attrition and differed hiring.
"We have a job to do and that is to manage as best we can our resources and to do it in such a way that we don't' provide staggering debt for our children," he said.
The entire city council will begin debate on the budget next Tuesday with a vote expected one week from today. Speaking to reporters Thursday afternoon, Ford said he is confident he has the support needed to get the budget passed.
"I am very proud of what we have done and I am confident this will get carried at council," he said.
