A leaked letter from Rob Ford proves he has a plan after all: don’t raise taxes

The Globe and Mail got hold of an unfinished and confidential draft of Rob Ford’s budget guidance letter to city manager Joe Pennachetti, and (surprise, surprise) the four-page document contains recommendations for tax freezes and private sector partnerships. Ford pushes for a maximum residential property tax increase of 1.75 per cent in 2013 and no increase in 2014 and 2015, plus a three-year freeze for business property taxes (though, interestingly, no mention of messing with the land transfer tax). Ford also calls raising taxes a “last resort, never the first choice” and suggests building arenas and pools through public-private partnerships. It sounds like Ford is plotting his strategy for the rest of his mayoralty right through the 2014 campaign. Sure, the ideas may not be very surprising, but his critics may be surprised to learn that the “nowhere mayor” does, in fact, have a plan. [Globe and Mail]