Concerned about YOUR Household Budgets?

If you bought a house in the last 10 years, you qualified for a mortgage at a lending institution [bank or mortgage company] presented your verified gross income to that same bank and budgeted for the mortgage payments you would be making, You understand that you have a predetermined income and only a certain portion is permitted for Mortgage qualification purposes. {GDS TDS} The BANK will not permit you to spend endlessly.

In addition to your mortgage you also have property maintenance either as a condo fee or you do the work / hire someone to do it, paint and upkeep, water, hydro, heating and property insurance. Let's not forget the addition property Tax the Municipal Property Tax Assessment levies against your house or condo. (MPAC)

Some at the City of Toronto feel that spending can go on forever without a limit on how much you can spend every month or every year. I want that VISA card. The never repay the debt card.

As you purchased property, you paid Land Transfer Tax Both Provincial and the newly imposed Miller Tax [have a look at what it costs to close on a Toronto Property Purchase] (rebates may apply for First Time Buyers)

In Canada, your purchase requires a minimum down payment of 15% to SAVE the Canada Mortgage and Housing premiums to INSURE a residential Mortgage (CMHC) plus applicable PST and Title Insurance. Lawyers have their own Law Society Levies and Taxes.

IN good times, Canadians Save for those times that may not be good.

I posed the following question to Shelley Carroll ( Toronto City Councillor ) If the property values decrease or collapse in the fashion that Garth Turner Predicts (The Greater Fool) with PEOPLEnomics and keeping them scared are we not prudent to trim our budgets during goods times rather that SLASHING them during a recession? See for yourself

Ms. Shelley Carroll replied;

Garth Turner? Basing his theory on overly-selective history in Intensified Mega Cities' Fiscal Formuli? Seriously?

Seriously? Buyers are nervous. Spending seems to be out of control. I sell houses. I help families solve their housing needs. I sell houses to families who are comfortable and confidant in their ability to make future payments on a mortgage and pay the taxes related to that purchase. Your confidence requires a local employment and the belief that ownership by choice and commitment will benefit your family. If the values decline, in Canada the way they have in the United States, it would be like the European Debt crisis right here.

Is it possible that we could have a VOTER revolt like they had in California with PROP 13? When they slashed their state budgets the entire government work force was reduced to 3 days a week. School and myriad other programs rippled.

Maybe its time we looked at appointed City Managers. What do you think?

When Toronto's Garbage Became Everyone's Problem

"For more than 15 days now none of the garbage and recycling units that dot most street corners in Canadas largest city have been emptied.

“Its disgusting, theres garbage flying around everywhere, we have to sweep the patio every 30 minutes just to keep it presentable,” said Vicki Rivard, manager at Davids Tea on the street. A block away, street vendor Anthony Vilanova says business is already being hit.

And it is the second time in seven years that garbage pick-up has been disrupted, with the last civic strike in 2002." FROM A US WEBSITE

KUDOS are deserved! I was so proud last week that the Pride Parade organizers had handled their garbage issues in an efficient and productive manner, taking the time and effort to hire private contractors to fill the void left by city employees.

I am not against the Unions, I am not against the City. But what are the real issues? Surely, Not the money. The same money that is being saved now will be spent, plus excess in overtime and back pay, plus the city will need to RETRO pay all the workers to the end of the last contract period.

I am sure someone could provide the details.

CUPE local has their own website and is encouraging the members to Twitter and POST and Participate but they are really working upstream, completely outgunned against the Public Relations Professionals that are the City.

SO who will profit in their profile and reputation from making all these apparent gestures to SAVE the city from the Unions?

Could this be the same CANDIDATE who promised to close a FEDERAL airport on the Toronto Islands outside of their jurisdiction during the last elections?

Toronto Business Owners are fed up with waste and mismanagement of services by the City and general dismissal of their needs to operate a profitable business. The City has meddled with Transit vis a vis the St Clair closures, the Molson Indy lost sponsorship (now the Honda Indy) will be picketed by the CUPE membership, last year the fight was about GUNS in the City that resulted in the relocation of the Sportmen's Show. That is not the image of the City I want projected on the evening news. We need tourist dollars.

Lets get a few business people elected to run a city properly, efficiently and responsibly. The ONLY reason this strike hasn't been settled is because the temperatures have been moderate. If we had a heat wave and the garbage stank, we would have settled weeks ago. Maybe after they fill High Park and the Sunnyside Pavillion on Lake Shore, so the 905'ers can drive by and TiSK TiSK and shake their heads.

I am embarrassed for the tourists that come to "Toronto the Good" for their week long vacations who cannot stay outside on the outdoor patio's and have a cool beverage because of mounting sidewalk garbage. I am so sorry that children who cannot play nicely with others have ruined it for everyone else.

If we want to be a world class city, Lets start acting and behaving like it.
What are your thoughts?

City of Toronto Offer Posted July 10, 2009

http://www.toronto.ca/offer/