Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedinEmail this link
Elgin County's budget is guided by Council's strategic priorities as set out in the Strategic Plan. The County's fiscal year is from January 1 to December 31. Municipal budget decisions set the funding for important infrastructure, programs, services, and facilities that serve Elgin County residents and ensure a high quality of life.
Elgin County residents do not pay taxes directly to the County. Instead, the County tax levy is added to the tax bill in each area Municipality and then transferred to the County from the Municipality of West Elgin, Municipality of Dutton Dunwich, Township of Southwold, Municipality of Central Elgin, Township of Malahide, Town of Aylmer, and the Municipality of Bayham. The County's annual budget is then financed by these tax levies as well as senior government funding, reserve funding, and other fees collected.
By taking a long-term 10-year approach to developing the budget, Council strives to proactively plan for challenges facing our residents while identifying opportunities to ensure Elgin is a place where people want to live, work and play.
Understanding municipal budgets can be a daunting task. Watch the video below to learn more about how the Elgin County Budget works:
Additionally, the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) also created an excellent overview of the municipal budget process and how MPAC assesses your property. This video can be accessed at the following link: https://youtu.be/nrWry5i3TBU.
Elgin County's budget is guided by Council's strategic priorities as set out in the Strategic Plan. The County's fiscal year is from January 1 to December 31. Municipal budget decisions set the funding for important infrastructure, programs, services, and facilities that serve Elgin County residents and ensure a high quality of life.
Elgin County residents do not pay taxes directly to the County. Instead, the County tax levy is added to the tax bill in each area Municipality and then transferred to the County from the Municipality of West Elgin, Municipality of Dutton Dunwich, Township of Southwold, Municipality of Central Elgin, Township of Malahide, Town of Aylmer, and the Municipality of Bayham. The County's annual budget is then financed by these tax levies as well as senior government funding, reserve funding, and other fees collected.
By taking a long-term 10-year approach to developing the budget, Council strives to proactively plan for challenges facing our residents while identifying opportunities to ensure Elgin is a place where people want to live, work and play.
Understanding municipal budgets can be a daunting task. Watch the video below to learn more about how the Elgin County Budget works:
Additionally, the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) also created an excellent overview of the municipal budget process and how MPAC assesses your property. This video can be accessed at the following link: https://youtu.be/nrWry5i3TBU.
Human Resources The Human Resources department provides best practice advice to organizational leadership and County Council to manage challenges proactively, work closely with others throughout the organization to build, sustain, and reward success, and plan for change.
Proposed 2024 Budget: $831.4K
Community & Cultural Services
All ten (10) of Elgin County’s Library branches provide free access to a diverse collection of materials and space for free Wi-Fi access, study areas and in-person programs.
The Elgin County Museum operates the Elgin County Heritage Centre and hosts exhibits and programs relating to the County’s history.
The Archives acquires, preserves and makes available archival records relating to the County of Elgin and its residents.
Proposed 2024 Budget:
Library: $3.63M
Museum: $287.2K
Archives: $267K
Provincial Offences Administration The Provincial Offences Administration (POA) office is responsible for administering the County’s court services, including setting hearing dates and collecting fines laid under the Provincial Offences Act.
Proposed 2024 Budget: - $141.6K
Planning The Planning Department processes severance consents, operates the Land Division Committee, processes plans of subdivisions and plans of condominiums, makes recommendations on local official plan amendments and undertakes strategic projects like the County Official Plan.
Proposed 2024 Budget:
Scenario One: $264.6K
Scenario Two: $453.5K
Land Division The Elgin County Land Division Committee (“LDC”) is a committee of Council authorized by the Planning Act that processes and hears applications for severance consents. The LDC has an assigned staff member, the Secretary-Treasurer of the LDC.
Proposed 2024 Budget: $35K
Administrative Services Administrative Services is comprised of multiple divisions, including but not limited to:
Council/Warden
Administrative and Legislative Services
Corporate Communications
Legal Services
Proposed 2024 Budget
Council: $333.3K
Warden: $115.5K
Admin Services: $1.02M
Agriculture: $55K
Economic Development & Tourism The Economic Development and Tourism Department is dedicated to supporting the growth of existing businesses and attracting new businesses to the region. As the local destination marketing organization, we also promote the region’s tourism assets.
2024 Proposed Budget: $858.3K
Ambulance Services The Emergency Management Department supports the day-to-day operations of Emergency Medical Service (EMS).
2024 Proposed Budget: $4.9M
Emergency Measures The Emergency Management Department is responsible for the County’s, and five of the LMP’s, emergency management programs and the administration of fire service training through the Elgin- Middlesex Regional Fire School.
2024 Proposed Budget: $253.4K
Financial Services The Financial Services Department is responsible for the preparation of Annual Budgets, Audited Financial Statements, and the procurement of contracted services that ensures the County is compliant within governing legislation.
2024 Proposed Budget: $852.4K
Information Technology Services The Information Technology Services (ITS) Department is responsible for the stable, reliable and secure operation of the County's server and network infrastructure. County ITS provides services to the Municipality of Central Elgin and the Municipality of Bayham.
2024 Proposed Budget: $2.26M
For more details on each department's 2024 Proposed Budgets, please access the following link: https://rb.gy/01p8mz
Budget Committee Meeting Video - November 29, 2023
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedinEmail this link
The Director of Engineering Services, Peter Dutchak, presented the Budget Committee with an overview of Engineering Services as well as the department's 10-Year Capital Plan and the proposed 2024 Budget for Engineering Services.
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedinEmail this link
Elgin County's Budget Committee released their 2024 Budget Survey on September 13th.
The survey was posted for one month and focused respondent input on 28 questions related to services offered by the County of Elgin. The majority of the questions (26) were quantitative, with predetermined ratings such as Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree or “Other,” which allowed some comments to be left. Two of the questions were qualitative which allowed respondents the opportunity to freely provide their opinions.
The County of Elgin has a population size of approximately 51,0001 persons (all ages – not inclusive of the City of St. Thomas). While our goal is to reach as many residents as possible during the survey period, 844 individuals chose to access the survey and 220 of those individuals filled out the survey. Therefore, approximately 26% of the individuals accessing the survey did complete the survey. At a higher level, the survey reached approximately 1.7% of the County’s population, with 26% of this subset responding to the survey. While the small sample size may not materially represent our population base, it is a similar submission size compared to prior years.
The results of this survey were presented to the Budget Committee on October 24th. The presentation from this meeting can be accessed at the following link: https://rb.gy/4w00cl
The following is a recap of key findings from the Budget Survey:
Departmental Findings:
Transportation Services: The majority of respondents felt that this service remained Very important and that the spending in this category should be maintained.
Government Services, Administration, County Council and Committees: Respondents identified that they felt that there was either an appropriate amount or too much spent on this service with a large number remaining neutral or identifying the need for more information in order to answer this question.
Economic Development and Tourism: Most of the respondents felt that the programs were effective and that maintaining funding was
more popular this year than in prior years.
Planning and Development: The majority of respondents felt that the Service was Important and wished to increase or maintain investment in this area.
Public Health: The majority of respondents identified this as an important service at some level.
Emergency Medical Services: The majority of respondents identified this as an important service at some level.
Cultural Services (Library, Archives & Museum): The majority of respondents felt that this was a service of importance on some level to them, with the majority feeling that funding should be maintained or increased.
Social Services and Affordable Housing: There was almost an even split between maintaining and increasing funding for these services.
Long-Term Care Homes and Senior Services: The majority of respondents identified this as an important service. The majority of respondents voted to Maintain or Increase funding in this area.
The top two priorities that should receive more tax dollars:
Social services (inclusive of supportive housing)
Long-Term Care
The top choice where fewer tax dollars should be spent:
Providing grants for community programs, services and events
2024 Budget Survey - Questionnaire.pdf (125 KB) (pdf)
