Originally shared by Marcia Steeves – President OPSEU Local 351
A rally is being held at 4:30pm tonight – Tuesday November 12th at City Hall and we encourage those of you concerned to rally with others in the community.
City of Peterborough’s draft budget was released on Monday, November 4th.
From Kawartha Now:
“While it includes an increase in funding for some municipal services, such as police, fire services, paramedics, and the library, the draft budget proposes a 25 per cent cut to the city’s community projects grants and community investment grants program, including existing service grants to Hutchison House and Kawartha Food Share.
It also proposes a 25 per cent across-the-board cut of city funding for the following organizations: Artspace, Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre, Peterborough AIDS Resource Network, Community Care Peterborough, Peterborough Musicfest, Peterborough Folk Festival, Native Learning Program, Community Race Relations Committee, Council for Person with Disabilities, Showplace Performance Centre, Peterborough Lions Club, Peterborough GreenUP, New Canadians Centre, Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, and Peterborough Drug Strategy.”
Among other cuts, it also proposes:
• Eliminating community grants for 75 organizations
• Closing City run daycare facilities
• Entirely cutting City funding for the Trinity Drop-in Centre
• Snow removal for sidewalks
• Recreational subsidies for low-income people
• And health benefits/funeral coverage for ODSP/OW recipients.
The draft budget is still under consideration by City Council. They need to know people will not stand for this or their austerity agenda. Please email City Council, call your councillors, talk to City staff, and show up to Council meetings to speak out against this if you’re able.
There is a consultation at City Hall the evening of Tuesday, November 12th, and the Council meeting after is open for public delegations.
Council will also be meeting to discuss the budget on November 18th and 19th, before it goes to a vote on December 9th.
You can register to speak here, or by calling City Hall: https://forms.peterborough.ca/Clerks-Office/Request-for-Delegation
More information on the draft budget is available here:
• From Kawartha Now: https://kawarthanow.com/2024/11/06/city-of-peterboroughs-draft-2025-budget-includes-25-cut-to-community-organizations-and-elimination-of-150k-for-dbia/
• From Arthur News: https://www.trentarthur.ca/news/peterborough-city-council-presented-with-2025-draft-budget
• From Peterborough Currents: https://peterboroughcurrents.ca/newsletters/newsletter-november-5-2024/
• And the full draft budget is available here: https://www.peterborough.ca/en/city-hall/resources/Documents/Finance/2025-Budget/Budget-Book-2025—DRAFT—WEBVERSION.pdf
Fleming Faculty Union 