Year: 1914
Summary: Recommendations for civil service appointments based on merit, record, and classification/standardization of positions.
Summary: A deputation of Toronto city officials was sent to examine accounting departments in New York, NY and Reading, PA. Outlines necessary steps in the reorganization of Toronto's accounting systems.
Year: 1916
Summary: Suggests that charitable expenditures can be reduced and controlled through action by the city.
Summary: Outlines financial savings in Cincinnati as a result of citizen support of a Bureau Municipal Research. Argues that there is potential for similar change in Toronto.
Summary: Five provisions in Bill No. 45 "An Act Respecting the City of Toronto" specify emergency use of funds without informing electors or ratepayers. Taxpayers should inquire into the reason for all proposed expenditure.
Year: 1919
Summary: Summarizes the aim, membership, organization, and activities of Voters Leagues in Boston, Chicago, and Milwaukee, to demonstrate the benefit of such organizations.
Year: 1918
Summary: Describes the benefits of the the Neighbourhood Workers Association of the Federation for Community Service in response to the influenza epidemic in Toronto.
Year: 1917
Summary: If city reports of actual and proposed expenditures presented the annual bills as divided by totals, departments, and functional divisions, it would enable fact studies of the civic service and the city's annual bill for salaries and wages. Advocates procedural reform for salary increases and promotions.
Summary: Responses to Effective Voting Story No. 1: Did You Vote in the Last Municipal Election? This bulletin suggests that a Toronto Voter's League might be able to address some of the issues raised herein.
Summary: Defines commission government, its history, advantages and limitations.
Summary: Current prospects state that the city of Toronto will be paying $4,500,000 annually for debt charges by 1915 , and the total city revenue for 1914 was $11,688,884. Toronto taxpayers should advocate for better management of debentures
Summary: Describes how the city's expenditures are all controllable.
Summary: Outlines the key issues for the Municipal Improvement Association for 1915, including: the financial system, civil service commission, fire department, purchasing department, and transportation commission.
Summary: Defines commission-manager (or city-manager) government, its advantages and limitations.
Summary: Cutting the tax-rate will not reduce taxation in the long-run unless expenditures are also cut. Increasing revenue from other sources (e.g. Exhibition Park) is a possible solution.
Summary: Concludes that the distribution of philanthropic giving is limited to a restricted and largely unvarying group of givers. A systematic and cooperative method would reduce waste energy and maximize the potential of these donations.
Year: 1922
Summary: Encouraging use of the suggestion box run by the bureau; citizens can inform the bureau of local infrastructure problems and/ or other matters of local interest.
Summary: Survey about voter turnout in the last municipal election.
Summary: Adequate planning for community welfare work relies upon effective administration of welfare agencies and financing of community welfare programs. This can only be obtained through city-wide co-operation.
Summary: Summarizes the City Treasurer's report on financial planning.
Summary: Outlines proposed expenditures for the City of Toronto in 1916, divided by services (Education, Health, Recreation etc.)
Year: 1915
Summary: Summarizes progress in three major areas of concern: unemployment relief, fire department reorganization, and accounting and budget reform.
Summary: Outlines planned revenue sources for 1917, and intended expenditure on municipal services.
Summary: Comparative chart of debt and tax rate statistics in major US and Canadian cities. This bulletin points out that irregular classification methods lessen the value of the comparison.
Summary: Four conditions for municipal financial difficulties: overestimating revenue; underestimating expenditures; charging to capital account what should be paid from current revenues; and operating revenue producing departments at a loss.
Summary: Defines mayor-council-board of control government, its advantages and limitations. Suggests modifications including an Administrative Board.
Year: 1936
Summary: The Annual Report of the Finance Commissioner should be studied by all citizens. There is a continued necessity to restrict capital expenditures, and borrow money only as required.
Summary: Lists what other cities spend on auditing, for purposes of comparison, with the caveat that decisions must be made in Toronto based on specific circumstances.
Summary: Four test questions as to the desirability of any mode taxation: is it equitable; is it convenient to collect; can it be collected economically; and is it conducive to the public benefit? Explores the application of these questions to the Ontario business tax, with the conclusion that it is unsatisfactory.
Summary: Pie chart representing planned city expenditure out of taxation for 1917. Advocates voter turnout and citizen engagement.