Toronto braces for service cuts amid budget crisis

Toronto residentswillfind outFriday how deep and how wide the cuts to city services might be, as Mayor David Miller warned thatthe city's budget crisis has made big reductions inevitable.

Toronto city manager Shirley Hoy will outline at a noonnews conference Friday what serviceswill be affected.

The city faces a $575-million budget shortfall for next year.

The cuts could include reductions in road and park maintenance and other areas.

Senior city officials have been scrambling to save money since Miller lost a vote on two new taxes last month.

Miller repeated his warning that the results will be painful, but added the city is limited in what it can target.

"We're doing our best to deal with Toronto's fiscal situation in a way that causes the least damage, and that's within the city manager's authority to manage," Miller said.

Hesaid the city is mandated by the provincial government to deliver many services and cannot cut them. The services include old-age homes, public health and welfare.

Noofficer layoffs, says police chief

The focus of attention at City Hally centredThursday on the police budget at a meeting of police overseers.

But despite the financial crisis, there were assurances from all sides that the number of front-line policeofficers won't change.

The police have been asked to cut $10 million from their budget, but decisions onwhat cuts can be madehave been put off until October.

Police Chief Bill Blair repeatedThursday that no officers will be laid off and there will an attempt to find savings elsewhere, whileMiller also said he supports the move to keep all current officers on the street.

Blair has said the administrative savings within the police service won't add up to $10 million, which could lead to some other city service facing cutsto make up the difference.