Mayor Rob Ford, who campaigned on the city having a spending — not a revenue — problem, is asking the Ontario government for an injection of more than $150 million in the provincial budget expected in late March, the Star has learned.

In a four-page letter dated Jan. 25 sent by Ford to Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan, and obtained by the Star, the mayor asks for money for road construction and repair, public transit projects, a Fort York visitor centre and the renewal of programs to fund subsidized child care, housing and services for immigrants.

Ford, who last week passed a city budget that freezes taxes primarily by drawing on one-time surpluses and reserve funds, notes the city manages a child-care system that serves 53,402 children, and manages 24,000 child-care fee subsidies and a wait list with another 17,000 names.

The city-provincial cost-sharing agreement is not indexed to inflation and funding remains at 1995 levels, Ford wrote — and the city needs another $11.5 million to make up the difference.

“The city’s ability to maintain 24,000 child-care fee subsidies . . . is dependent on annual draws from the city’s Child Care Expansion Reserve Fund which will be depleted in 2012.

“Unless addressed, the shortfall will result in a reduction of 3,500 subsidized child-care spaces,” Ford wrote, asking that the $11.5 million hike be made permanent.

The mayor also asked for $48.3 million for road projects, including upgrading an aging traffic-signal system, reconfiguring the Six Points road maze in Etobicoke, and repairing five roads including Eglinton Ave. W., Finch Ave. W. and Kingston Rd.

For public transit, Ford wants $89 million a year for five years for initiatives including new subway cars, buses and implementation of the province’s PRESTO payment card.

And, while Ford often blasted predecessor David Miller for building demands for provincial transit operating funding into city budgets, and has said Toronto needs to get its fiscal house in order before asking the province for money, the mayor makes a case that sounds very familiar.

“The city seeks the restoration of the 50 per cent provincial operating subsidy for public transportation costs,” Ford wrote. “Ongoing, stable provincial support would ensure predictable funding for existing TTC riders (447 million strong) and future growth in TTC infrastructure.”

Ford also makes a plea for the province to match Ottawa’s $5 million contribution to build a visitor centre for the Fort York historic site, noting the city is investing $23 million.

“A decision from Ontario is required urgently in order to tender the construction of the project and meet the 2012 deadline,” Ford wrote.

He also officially asks the province to renew the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program and the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement, both of which expire at the end of March.

While Ford has expressed his displeasure with the performance of Toronto Community Housing Corp., which will be the subject of two scathing audits to be released as early as Monday, the housing request seems to signal he’s not about to make radical changes in the model for sheltering the needy.

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Premier Dalton McGuinty has publicly welcomed cooperation with Ford on issues including a revamped, subway-based transit plan. But some senior Ontario Liberals have reacted to Ford’s requests for more funding by turning his election catchphrase back on him, joking, “Haven’t you heard? The gravy train has been stopped.”

An email sent Sunday evening to Ford’s spokeswoman Adrienne Batra requesting comment on the funding request went unanswered.