Essex County approves 2.25% tax increase for 2026

- Eight new Paramedic positions and two new ambulances

will support two new 12-hour day shifts -

by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative

After a six-and-a-half-hour budget meeting last Wednesday, members of Essex County Council approved the 2026 Budget with a 2.25%, or $5.1M, increase. That equates to around $44.02 per $350,000 average home.

  The 2026 Budget represents a total of $145,144,950M. Every 1% change to the tax rate equals to $1.42M in levy dollars.

  When originally presented, it had a 2.65% tax rate increase. It represented $145.7M, with $98.6M dedicated to Operations and $48.9M for Capital. County Council made some adjustments during the meeting, which reduced the proposed tax rate, while still adding on a few additions.

  “The County of Essex Strategic Plan calls for the County of Essex to be a regional champion, delivering services for the success of our local communities and residents,” County of Essex Warden/Mayor of Leamington, Hilda MacDonald, said of the document adopted in 2023. “That plan also calls for us to be a powerhouse in public and private investment attraction by investing in quality infrastructure and creating conditions conducive to economic growth.”

  Staff, she added, built the 2026 Budget based on the strategic priorities County Council adopted for its term as part of its first ever Strategic Plan. “They did so in a challenging economic environment, while trying to maintain service-levels.”

  Setting the Budget is one of the most important tasks County Council undertakes, she added.

  “This was a challenging year, with cost pressure affecting every aspect of our operations, and our staff across all departments deserve recognition for crafting a fiscally responsible budget that stays true to our strategic planning,” CAO Sandra Zwiers said. “Staff carefully assessed whether every dollar could have the greatest impact and maintain vital service, while making significant targeted investments in healthcare, infrastructure, housing supports, and public safety.”

  This budget tried to weigh spending against the risks of deferral, she added. It is also a budget in line with inflation, while maintaining the levels of service County residents demand.

General Overview and challenges:

There were a few big drivers that shaped the 2026 Budget, Melissa Ryan, Director of Financial Services/Treasurer, said. They include inflation, which is stabilizing but still having an impact on contracts of materials, software, vehicles, and wages; steady growth pressures on infrastructure and services; and human resource priorities: retention, succession, and bargaining.

“At the heart of this budget is fiscal responsibility,” Ryan said. The County remains focused on maintaining service levels, honouring commitments to the community, and making decisions in the present that don’t compromise the financial stability of the future.

  “The County is recognized for its strong fiscal management, a solid credit rating, and a pay-as-you-go philosophy that helps us limit debt and keep control of our financial future,” she added.

  Challenges the County continues to navigate include rising operational and infrastructure costs, increasing land prices, limited provincial funding, and ongoing deferral of property tax reassessments.

  She said the budget delivers steady adjustments to keep up with inflation and growth, while continuing to invest where it matters most.

 2026 Budget Highlights:

• Eight Primary Care Paramedic positions and two new ambulances to support two new 12-hour day shifts for Essex-Windsor EMS starting in June,

• The replacement of seven ambulances, one logistics vehicle, one administrative vehicle, and personal protective equipment for EMS,

• A Manager of Physical Resources will be added to the EMS team to support its infrastructure,

• A Community Programs Coordinator for EMS to work to expand community training programs and the use of life-saving Automated External Defibrillators across the region. This was added in during Budget Deliberations and will be divided by weighted assessment with partners,

• Additional training hours for paramedics totalling nearly $200,000, of which the County would have to pay around half as it will be divided by weighted assessment with partners. This item was added in during Budget Deliberations,

• One Human Resources Generalist to support EMS and Sun Parlour Home with recruitment, amongst other HR duties,

• One Human Resource Assistant,

• A full-time Nurse Practitioner for Sun Parlour Home. The role will be a contract position funded through the Ministry of Long-Term Care’s Hiring More Nurse Practitioners for Long-Term Care Homes (HMNP) initiative. The NP will be seconded from Erie Shores Healthcare under a formal agreement and will support Sun Parlour Home by enhancing resident care, reducing ED transfers, reviewing and strengthening clinical operations, and providing staff education to ensure compliance with legislative and funding requirements,

• An increase in funding for life enrichment activities for residents at Sun Parlour Home,

• An increase in per diem funding in residential and homelessness services from $60/day to $65 to further subsidize the 226 beds for vulnerable residents. $300,000 is required to do so. This is contingent on the City also approving the increase,

• Expansion of the County’s overnight homelessness program for the County contribution total of $110,000,

• $48,000 as part of the 20-year commitment to the Bridge in Leamington, which provides 12 tiny homes and supportive housing units,

• $200,000 for Erie Shores HealthCare in Leamington as part of an ongoing 10-year commitment. It is in year three,

• Close the Asset Management Plan (AMP) gap,

• Around $1.25M for the Road Way Expansion Program base funding,

• Increased funding for phragmites and drainage management,

• $7M to the acute care hospital reserve to fulfill the County’s $100M commitment. This reserve is forecast to be at $65M by the end of the year, information from the County notes,

• Basement repairs to the County Administration Building, after flooding from a burst pipe,

• $3M in contractual salary increases,

• $6.1M in the County Wide Active Transportation System,

• A $112.9M construction program, including $21M for road rehabilitation projects spanning 32.6 km. The replacement of two bridges and four culverts, with engineering work being undertaken for two additional bridge and three culvert replacement projects, information from the County notes,

 What County Council removed to reach the 2.25% increase

• The County Council wage increase was proposed to be 3.8%, bringing the total spent on the 14-person Board to $538,100. It was instead moved to maintain the 2025 levels with a 0% increase at $518,100.

Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy had concern as the wages were reviewed last year, and after comparing to other municipalities, County Council gave itself a 137% increase at that time. A P60 model – where 60% of the wage rates in comparator organizations are below and 40% are above – was adopted to determine County Council pay.

  She worried not supporting it would put County Council right back where it was last year, which was behind other municipalities due to lack of gradual increases. The market review will be done at the beginning of every Term of Council, which could return in a bigger jump at that point.

• The original contribution to the Hospital Reserve was $7.76M. County Council moved to drop that $720,000 to the $7.04M mark instead to help offset the costs for the enhancements in the various positions.

 Reserve Positions

Generally, the County’s reserve position is on track, Director Ryan said. The Capital Reserve remains underfunded, however. That remains a challenge as it is relied upon for large-scale replacements.

  Pressures on this reserve will also come from the EWEMS Master Plan, which includes several capital projects. To address that, a plan was built to add $1M to the levy each year for the next nine-years to gradually repay what is being used now, Ryan explained.

  These reserves will also be important for the Sun Parlour Home project, whether it ends up being a major redevelopment or rebuild, depending on results to come through the feasibility study.

  The Rate Stabilization Reserve is slightly above the target range of 10% of the levy.

  Reserves are critical, because they help the County plan for the long-term, keep tax rates stable when unexpected costs arise, and balance affordability between taxpayers of today and the future, Ryan explained.  

  A chart she presented to Council outlined the 2025 projected reserve balance is around $318M, which is expected to go down to $262M in 2026. That is largely due to planned investment in roadway expansion projects.

  Debts of the Roadway Expansion Program may be required as early as 2028. The County has a plan to gradually replenish that over the 20-year program, she explained.

 Council discussion

• Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy learned the County’s residential services program for 226 beds for vulnerable residents has not increased its beds available in a decade. She did not think that was keeping up the need. She’d like to be updated on this issue quarterly to ensure it does not get worse.

• Kingsville Mayor Kim DeYong moved that the traffic signal at County Road 20 and 23 be funded through the Roadway Expansion Reserve. She noted there have been many collisions here, including those resulting in fatalities, and believes this will be safer for the clear stretch between Kingsville and Harrow. That carried with a majority vote.

 County Council receives

2026 Advocacy Priorities

Essex County Council received the 2026 Advocacy Priorities as information and directed Administration to integrate the endorsed priorities into the County’s Advocacy Strategy and 2026 Advocacy Calendar.

  CAO Zwiers explained the document outlines advocacy priorities – including improving mobility and roadway capacity; ensuring safe, affordable homes as a foundation for sustainable community growth; improving access to health care and paramedic services modernization; advancing environmental stewardship; and economic development and trade stability.

  The advocacy priorities speak to specific needs in the County and align with the advocacy approaches and priorities of agencies, such as the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), the Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus, and the Province.