The tie vote defeating Ward 37 (Scarborough Centre) Councillor Michael Thompson's motion happened just hours after a similar motion passed at the North York Community Council.

Thompson wanted the community council to ask members of the budget committee to undo the $700,000 cut by Toronto's City Manager Shirley Hoy that means community centres will close Mondays starting next week.

"I have received numerous calls from residents who are opposed to the cuts that are proposed," said Thompson. "I'm asking members to support this motion."

The motion was ruled out of order by chair Norm Kelly, but councillors challenged the ruling and kept it on the floor.

Ward 38 (Scarborough Centre) Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker, who sits on Mayor David Miller's executive committee, chided councillors who wanted to keep community centres open but also voted to defer considering a land transfer tax and vehicle registration tax that the city was to have relied on to balance next year's budget.

"All of us have a right to vote for or against the land transfer tax as we see fit but there are consequences to your actions," he said.

"I'm a person who proudly supports the land transfer tax as the best way to support transit and seniors at home but that didn't go through. The consequences of that vote - you live with it. The reason we're closing down community centres is councillors don't want to raise the revenue."

De Baeremaeker continued even after he'd finished his official speech, interrupting Ward 39 (Scarborough Agincourt) Councillor Mike Del Grande, who complained that he wasn't ever given an opportunity to vote on the cuts to community centres and libraries.

"The essence I get is those who voted on this (to defer) are the bad guys," Del Grande said. "Well I didn't get to vote on which services should be cut...so it's OK to spend a million and a half to buy a theatre, but not to fund this."

Throughout, De Baeremaeker shouted, "show me your list!", demanding to know where Del Grande or others would cut to make up the city's $575 million shortfall.

In the end, the community council voted 4-4 on Thompson's motion - meaning it ws defeated.

In favour were Del Grande, Thompson, Ward 41 (Scarborough Agincourt) Councillor Chin Lee, and Ward 44 (Scarborough East) Councillor Ron Moeser. Opposed were De Baeremaeker, Kelly, Ward 35 (Scarborough Southwest) Councillor Adrian Heaps and Ward 42 (Scarborough Rouge River) Councillor Raymond Cho.

Thompson had harsh words for those who voted against him. "Basically they're not supportive of the residents of Scarborough's position on cuts - and in fact they're basically doing the mayor's bidding against the interests of Scarborough," he said.