Welcome to Peterborough Currents' podcast coverage of the city's 2025 budget process! 

In this episode, Brett Throop and Will Pearson discuss what's behind next year's proposed tax increase and how the city might solve its budget troubles without resorting to tax hikes. We also discuss a couple of key topics we've reported on, including the city's capital shortfall and discretionary benefits for social assistance recipients.

TIMESTAMPS

• (0:00) Community rallies against cuts to arts and community grants
• (6:38) Why are citizens facing a big tax hike for the second year in  a row?
• (17:26) Councillors met for two days to bring the tax hike down. It went up instead.
• (29:24) Why Mayor Jeff Leal sees high taxes as an economic development issue
• (37:34)  Property taxes are over a century old. Is there a better way to fund cities?
• (42:10) The city's capital budget and  growing infrastructure backlog
• (56:55) Transit riders face higher fares for the same service next year
• (1:03:47) Should the city fund health benefits for people on social assistance?
• (1:14:56) Millions more for homelessness next year; is it sustainable?
• (1:23:52) A "beautiful vision" of what budget season could be

SPECIAL THANKS
Thanks to Will Ward for the wonderful piano improvisations.
Thanks to Eddy Sweeney from Trent Radio for audio of the Community Not Cuts rally.

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