It is really a twofold problem - there is no real definition of "services" and no one (especially the union workers) wants to discuss alternatives or bold ideas.
Garbage collection is an essential city service, but it could be contracted out at a substantial savings.
Firefighters and paramedics are an essential city service, but their departments could be combined at a substantial savings. (As I understand it right now the fire department is the first responder to ANY emergency and then the paramedics show up. combining the departments means that the best trained people show up at emergencies that suit them, no more pumper trucks to help with heart attack victims.)
Libraries are a city service, but they are not essential - there is no mandate that there be 1 library for every 15,00o citizens. Instead of outright closing, why not consider different/shorter hours. A library does not need to be open from 9 am to 1 pm on a Tuesday for two patrons and four staff.
The city of Toronto runs three zoos - one of which I had never heard of until all the whining started, and I have been living here for 25 years now.
Surely if a small community wants to keep their zoo they can run with volunteers and donations. Imagine the City of Calgary fully funding a small petting zoo in Oakatoks. In this case, Mayor Ford is right, the city should not be in the zoo business.
The city also owns 3-5 theaters. In a city with 6 Broadway level theaters, why is the municipal government in the theater business? especially if they cannot make money at it.
For most of these community special interest groups without these "essential services" - publicly owned zoos, theaters, and art galleries, having libraries open 24hrs, 6-figure grants to revenue generating festivals, $7 a day daycare, - their city will become a wasteland.
Everybody wants it so long as someone else is paying for it.
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