Sandra Zwiers thanked the Finance Team and the Senior Leadership Team for their efforts to prepare the proposed County of Essex 2025 Budget. Acknowledgment was also extended to County Council for guiding critical initiatives over the past year, including the Strategic Plan, Roadway Expansion Plan Funding Model, Asset Management Plan and Policy, Official Plan, Reserve Policy, and the initiation of the Development Charges Background Study.
The CAO emphasized that the budget integrated Council’s goals into a roadmap for the next year, highlighting its role as a tool to allocate necessary resources to achieve strategic objectives.
The CAO noted that the 2025 Budget addresses significant affordability challenges, acknowledging ongoing inflationary pressures that have persisted post-pandemic. It was highlighted that since 2019, basic inflation has cumulatively increased by 18.7%, while the County’s tax rate rose by only 12.82%, leaving a near 6% gap. With construction costs further driving capital spending pressures, the proposed budget recommends an increase to address these gaps responsibly. The CAO assured Council that administration had carefully evaluated operational and capital needs to develop a sustainable financial plan. The CAO concluded by thanking Council for their collaboration and commitment to advancing Essex County's goals, expressing confidence that this budget meets both present needs and future preparations.