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Essex County residents will see their property taxes increase by almost four per cent next year.
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County council approved its 2025 budget on Thursday with a 3.76 per cent tax levy increase, adding $60 more in taxes for every property assessed at $300,000.
“This was a challenging year because of inflationary pressures,” said county CAO Sandra Zwiers.
“County of Essex staff from all departments are to be commended for building a fiscally responsible budget that works toward strategic plan priorities while carefully determining how every dollar can be spent as effectively as possible.”
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Calling it “fiscally responsible,” the county said the budget preserves service levels despite inflationary pressures.
The budget includes a $98.1-million road construction capital program for 2025 with $67.6 million of that going toward expanding capacity, while $20.6 million is set aside for rehabilitation projects across several municipalities.
Those projects include a new roundabout at County Road 46 and Rochester Town Line, continued work along County Road 42 and County Road 43, and design work for the County Road 22 corridor enhancement project.
With Essex Windsor EMS on track to record 65,000 calls by the end of 2024, the county said the budget includes money to replace seven ambulances, add an additional unit and begin designing a new EMS headquarters.
It also includes funding to replace 42 stretchers and add the position of a logistics technician, as recommended in the 2019 master plan.
“Our Strategic Plan calls for the County of Essex to be a regional champion delivering services for the success of our local communities and residents and it calls for the County to be a powerhouse in public and private investment attraction,” Warden Hilda MacDonald said.
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“This budget does that by maintaining services for our residents and by investing in infrastructure to lay the foundation for continued prosperity and growth.”
The budget also includes an additional $7 million for the reserve for a new hospital — an increase of $680,000 over last year. The county has committed to raising $100 million for the new hospital. The reserve is forecasted to reach $57 million by the end of 2025.
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Erie Shores HealthCare in Leamington will get $200,000 as part of a ten-year commitment.
Work on a Regional Affordable Housing Strategy is set to continue as is funding for programs such as the Homelessness Hub in Leamington and the Warming Centre.
The budget provides $1 million to The Bridge in Leamington as part of a two-year commitment to construct 38 tiny homes and invest $48,000 as part of the county’s 20-year commitment to The Bridge, a youth resource centre.
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