Toronto budget chief Gary Crawford’s newly balanced budget has its share of critics. The spending package originally had a $91-million gap.

The union representing Toronto’s front line police officers says reductions to the police budget will have a noticeable impact on public safety. On Tuesday, the City released its preliminary 2017 budget, which proposes a $4.4 million cut to annual police spending. Also included in the report are increases to property taxes and investment in public transit. Mike McCormack, the president of the Toronto Police Association (TPA) warned that crime will rise as Toronto’s population increases. “We have huge sporting events, (and Toronto is) a destination city,” McCormack said. “That’s a huge demand on police resources. There is clear evidence that properly deployed police officers have an impact on crime prevention.”