It took hours of talking, cajoling, pleading, arguing and shouting. But it's finally over. And as predicted, Mayor David Miller was able to get his way, as City Council finally passed his controversial vehicle registration and land transfer taxes late Monday. The vote, which ended at 25-20 for the first tax and 26-19 for the latter, came just after 7pm and followed more than eight hours of sometimes acrimonious debate.

"This decision has put us on the road to being set up right to provide...services to the neighbourhoods," Miller promised.

His supporters were beaming, assured that Toronto was on the right path.

"I feel like Toronto can breathe easier now, knowing that we now have the money for cleaner air. We have the money to fund public transit. We have now money to fund our community centres. We have money now to build our city," added Katrina Miller, Toronto Environmental Alliance.

Miller's opponent's were equally passionate about their stance.

"This is not about engagement and this is not about city building," exclaimed Ward 16 Councillor Karen Stintz. "This is a narrow tax that's not fair."

"The city won't be any better or healthier, and I think that that's what they want," adds Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong, about what taxpayers are telling him. "If they're paying taxes, they want to see taxes as a last resort."

It was a Hobson's choice scenario for most. The new taxes will bring in $200 million, still short of the $400 million budget shortfall the city is facing, but a start to get the potentially bankrupt metropolis over a very large hump. The Mayor had previously tried to shut down community centres on Mondays, libraries on Sundays and skating rinks in December. But when all of those were foiled one-by-one, Miller threatened an 18-20 percent property tax hike and the possibility of huge service cuts and made a full court press to pass the taxes despite strong opposition.

Most saw the vehicle registration levy as a done deal. But the land transfer tax, which could add thousands to the cost of a house and price first time buyers out the market, had to be massaged. After a compromise was worked out that would see some first timers get a partial rebate, Miller gained enough support to make the taxes a reality.

The council was jammed all day not only with politicians but members of the public on the 'yeah" and 'nay' sides. One angry realtor was asked to leave, after he continually interrupted the proceedings. "I'll gladly go,' he emoted, with real disgust in his voice. "Which way out?"

"It's not fair taxation," argued Von Palmer from the Toronto Real Estate Board. "You're going after 5 per cent of taxpayers to cover 70 per cent of the city's shortfall. That's simply not fair."

But labour unions, community groups and environmentalists also showed up in droves to show support for the charges. "I love fair taxes," avers one supporter. "It's fair in the sense that it taxes people when they actually have the money instead of taxing people on a yearly basis, whether or not they're on fixed income or have no income whatsoever."

The new taxes kick in starting in 2008.