Glossary
Budget words, in plain language
Government budgets use a lot of jargon. Here is what each term means, with an everyday comparison where we can.
- Budget vs. actual
A budget is a plan. Actuals are what really got spent. They are often different.
- Capital budget
Money to build or fix big, long-lasting things: subways, rec centres, roads. Like saving up to buy a car.
Toronto plans it 10 years ahead, so you will often see a "10-year capital plan".
- City councillor
Your elected rep at Toronto City Hall. Council votes on the city budget every year.
- City-wide spending
Money the city does not tag to any one ward, like the whole TTC system or police. You cannot fairly split it by neighbourhood.
- Deficit
When a government spends more than it takes in during a year. It borrows to cover the gap, which adds to its debt.
- FAO
Ontario's Financial Accountability Office: an independent watchdog that checks the province's budget math.
Source: fao-on.org
- Gross (total cost)
Everything a service costs, no matter who pays for it.
Example: a program might cost $1.5 billion gross while the city itself pays only $100 million, because the province and federal government cover the rest.
- MP
Member of Parliament: your elected rep in Ottawa, for federal money like transit and housing grants.
- MPP
Member of Provincial Parliament: your elected rep at Queen's Park, where Ontario's budget, including schools and hospitals, is decided.
- Net (paid by the city)
The part of a cost the city pays itself, mostly from property tax, after other governments, fares and fees chip in.
- Operating budget
Money for day-to-day costs: wages, running buses, keeping shelters open. Like rent and groceries.
It has to be spent again every year. Cities in Ontario are not allowed to run a deficit on it.
- Property tax
A yearly bill homeowners pay the city, based on what their home is worth. Renters pay it too, because it is built into rent.
- Provincial supervisor
A person the province appoints to run a school board instead of its elected trustees, usually over money problems.
- Public Accounts
Ontario's official, audited report of what it actually spent last year, as opposed to what it planned.
- Riding
An area that elects one representative to Queen's Park (an MPP) or to Ottawa (an MP). Ridings and wards have different borders.
- School trustee
An elected member of a school board like TDSB. Trustees normally approve the board's budget.
- Strong-mayor powers
Ontario rules that let Toronto's mayor propose the city budget and veto some council changes to it.
- Transfers
Money one government gives another. Ottawa sends money to Ontario; Ontario and Ottawa send money to Toronto.
- Ward
Toronto is split into 25 areas called wards. Each one elects one city councillor. Scarborough is wards 20 to 25.