Residents of Essex County will see an increase of 3.76 percent on their tax bills in 2025.
County council spent several hours with administration last Thursday, poring over next year’s budget which will see the hike translated into $60.96 on a $300,000 assessment.
Total expenditures will be $140,275,380. Council trimmed down the total amount from the projected $143,396,430. In 2024, Essex County had a budget of $132,282,190.
“This is a particularly challenging year and we recognize the budget presents significant affordability challenges for all ratepayers,” said Essex County CAO Sandra Zwiers.
Council was able to cut the budget down from a projected 6.36 percent increase.
The biggest expense in 2025 will be $98.1 million that will go towards road construction. Hand-in-hand with that is $4.9 million on the County Wide Active Transportation that includes 20km of paved shoulder projects.
After some of his fellow councillors questioned what was a “need” compared to a “want” Amherstburg Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb said that there were a lot of safety issues surrounding whether or not to create paved shoulders which will cost just over $800,000.
“This is not a want, this is a need,” said Gibb. “This is a public safety issue. There are a lot of people that use them for cycling and walking.”
Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue was absent during the budget deliberations as Councillor Diane Pouget filled in as the town’s alternate.
The EMS in 2025 will see a 10.45 per cent increase over the previous year as 16 new paramedics will be hired along with a manager of employee wellness and a logistics technician. New vehicles and stretchers are also coming next year.
Still with health care, there was a lot of debate over the county’s continual contribution to the new hospital. A year ago, Essex County, working towards its overall commitment of $100 million put in $6.3 million. For 2025, that will increase slightly to $7,040,000.
“Somebody has to pay this bill for the hospital whether it’s the people paying taxes now or in the future. If we put money aside now, that saves money in the future,” said Gibb.
Another increase coming in 2025 is the general government department which will see a jump of nearly $1 million. Of that, $327,040 goes towards council services as a result of council giving itself a raise.
“This budget is not a standalone document. We know it’s the product of integrating all of council’s goals and visions to a tangible roadmap for the next 12 months,” said Zwiers.
When presenting the budget to council, director of financial services/treasurer Melissa Ryan noted that the county is facing risk factors including provincial funding reductions, global inflation, and increase in demand for social services and housing.
“There are several inherent risks, many of which are outside the control of administration or council,” said Ryan.
It was noted that legislated obligations jumped from $28,761,710 to $30,865,040.
Ryan also pointed out to council that rising operating costs, and EMS offloading delays as well as contractual obligations have a big role in the increases.
There is also an increase in the full-time employees of the county. In 2023, Essex had 551 full-time jobs which is now 582.
“For 2025, the County of Essex is challenged by a number of operating and capital expenditures imposing a year-over-year increase in net levy requirements,” she wrote in her presentation.
County budget passed with a 3.76 per cent increase
By Fred Groves
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