5 things to watch for as Toronto's budget committee meets

Everyone from parents to Olympic swimmers will be watching as Toronto's budget committee meets on Thursday at city hall.

Mayor John Tory, speaking with reporters before meeting federal and provincial politicians who represent the city, said the city must make the right choices about what to spend its money on.

"It's a tough budget here, I make no bones about that," Tory said.

The city,which unveiled its preliminary 2017 budget inDecember, needs to find $91 million to balance its books, which it is required to do. But many groups have spoken out in recent weeks calling for the city to avoid cuts toservices, and instead invest more in some areas.

• City of Toronto's 2017 preliminary budget unveiled

• John Tory says push to privatize garbage pickup in Scarborough 'not about ideology'

Here are some of the issues that could take centre stage on Thursday.

Cutting funding to school daycares

Dozens of women went to city hall earlier this week to protest the risingcosts of raising a child in this city.

• Proposed budget won't ease Toronto's 'childcare crisis,' councillor warns

One proposed funding cut, worth $4.1 million, would eliminate theannual occupancy costs the city pays to local school boards that operate daycares in their facilities. The costs cover heating, light and maintenance costs, and school trustees worry if the city doesn't pay for this, the daycares will have to increase the fees they charge parents.

The Student Nutrition Program

Mayor John Tory's office said he has championed this program, which provides breakfast, lunch and snacks to some 194,000 students in need, and won't support any rollback.

• Councillor sounds alarm over how city will pay for student meals

But Coun. Mike Layton, who sits on the budget committee, said while a $2.244 million increase is recommended for the program, that money isn't currently in the budget.

Swimming pools

City staff are considering closing dozens of outdoor and wading pools to save $2 million, but it was a decision to cut off funding for a TDSB pool at S.H Armstrong Community Centre that made the biggest splash.

• Save the pools, Penny Oleksiak tweets

That's because Penny Oleksiak, the 16-year-old who sprinted to Rio Olympic swimming gold last summer, grew up using the poolthere.

The swimmer tweeted out her dismay at the potential cut and Tory responded a day later, saying he had instructed the budget manager to consider saving the pool.

Will Tory's 2.6%cut stick?

Several councillors have criticized Tory's plan to cut city department budgets by 2.6 per cent ever since he announced it, and the TTC and Toronto Police Service have already indicated they won't be able to achieve thatgoal.

• Mayor John Tory, Gord Perks clash over impact of budget cuts on TTC

But Tory's office says the plan has resulted in departments finding ways to save money that don't affect Toronto residents, like the TTC saving $300,000 by forcing its employees to choose between a landline or cellphone.

If the 2.6 per cent cutsucceeds, Tory will be able to keep a property tax hike to the rate of inflation.

The councillors who oppose the plan, however, argue thecuts are making life more expensive for those who rely on city services while onlybenefiting those who own pricey property.

Where will the money come from?

The budget committee, and eventually city council, will have to find the money somehow.

Budget ChairGary Crawford is set to hold a 12:30 p.m. news conference which could shed some light on how council plans to cover the shortfall.

The rest of the budget meeting gets underway at 9:30 a.m. The entire city council, meanwhile, willdebate the budget in February.

Here are the councillors on the budget committee:

• Gary Crawford (Chair)
• Jon Burnside
• John Campbell
• Shelley Carroll
• Justin J. Di Ciano
• Mike Layton
• Frances Nunziata