ESSEX FREE PRESS

by Essex Free Press Staff With hot dogs and pizza available, cookie decorating, and opportunities to get a picture with Santa, mail Christmas wishes to the North Pole, play holiday-themed games, and listen in on festive music, there were plenty of reasons to head down to the McGregor Parkette on Friday evening to enjoy this year’s Stroll by Santa event.   With all the activities, coupled with great evening weather, this year’s event was a big hit in the small hamlet, perhaps attracting a near...

by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative When members of Essex Council participated in the 2026 Budget Walkthrough meeting two-weeks ago, staff presented an average tax increase of 4.92% through the draft budget document.   Having had some time to digest the details inside the draft document, the local decision-makers chiseled away at the tax rate during its around five-hour deliberation meeting on Monday, December 8, settling on an average 2.99%, or 2.66% blended with the County, total...

- 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...