Mayor Ford’s brother is promising “fireworks” when the budget committee meets today at Toronto City Hall.  Councillor Doug Ford is vice -chairman of the committee and says he plans to push through a “whole whack” of changes to the city’s 2014 budget.  He says he’ll be moving to cut the proposed property tax hike.  “We don’t want a two and a half percent tax increase,” Ford explained, “we want 1.75 percent.  We want the land transfer tax to be reduced by 5 percent.  There’s $15-million sitting there.  We know there is, and we’re there to respect the taxpayers.”  Councillor Ford also says he’ll try to freeze the TTC’s five-cent fare hike.  But outgoing TTC chair Karen Stintz says the transit authority needs $37 million before the fare hike can be dropped.

Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly says he looks forward to seeing Ford’s proposal.  Kelly’s advice to every member of council will be to keep an “open mind” with the budget proposals, whether they add on or take away from the budget.