Investing in Elgin

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email 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.


2023 Proposed Budget

Each year, Elgin County's Warden and County Council – with input from County residents and businesses – make decisions about County services, programs and infrastructure and approve a budget. Intensive consultation took place from February 1st – February 14th, 2023 to engage with the public. To review the proposed 2023 Budget, visit: https://engageelgin.ca/investinginelgin.

All information gathered through the public consultation period will be presented to Council for further consideration at its meeting on February 28, 2023.


Additional Documents & Resources

Please click here to access the 2023 Budget Document

Please click here for 2022 Budget Committee Minutes and Agendas.

The 2023 Council Budget Deliberation materials can be found under "Budget Documents" on the menu to the right.

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.


2023 Proposed Budget

Each year, Elgin County's Warden and County Council – with input from County residents and businesses – make decisions about County services, programs and infrastructure and approve a budget. Intensive consultation took place from February 1st – February 14th, 2023 to engage with the public. To review the proposed 2023 Budget, visit: https://engageelgin.ca/investinginelgin.

All information gathered through the public consultation period will be presented to Council for further consideration at its meeting on February 28, 2023.


Additional Documents & Resources

Please click here to access the 2023 Budget Document

Please click here for 2022 Budget Committee Minutes and Agendas.

The 2023 Council Budget Deliberation materials can be found under "Budget Documents" on the menu to the right.

  • Community encouraged to get involved with the County’s Budget Discussions

    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    February 1, 2023
    For Immediate Release

    Central Elgin, ON – Each year, the Warden and County Council – with input from County residents and businesses – make decisions about County services, programs and infrastructure and approve a budget. The budget is about setting goals and building a great community – together. The public’s feedback is a crucial part of the County’s budget process.

    The County’s draft 2023 Budget was released to the public today. Elgin County is encouraging the community to get involved in the budget process with intensive consultation taking place February 1st – February 14th, 2023. This year’s budget, that forms the mid-point for County Council’s detailed review, requires a municipal tax increase of 2.07%. The proposed increase would equate to an additional cost of $13.18 in 2023 for a residential property, per $100,000 of assessment.

    To review the proposed 2023 Budget, visit: https://engageelgin.ca/investinginelgin.

    “Unsurprisingly, County Council is facing a difficult budget process this year. This draft Budget includes costs related to government mandated services that we are required to address, funding needs and service commitments,” said Warden Ed Ketchabaw. “Given the staggering inflation rates that all sectors are experiencing, this leaves little room to make adjustments and cuts within the budget. I would characterize it as mainly a maintenance budget that will meet Elgin County’s needs for 2023.”

    The draft Operating Budget includes approximately $70 million in 2023 for programs and services, including Housing, Social and Health Services, and Transportation Services. The draft Capital Budget includes approximately $22 million in 2023 for various infrastructure and capital projects - classified as Lifecycle Renewal Projects, Growth Projects and Service Improvement Projects.

    “This draft budget is conservative and reflects modest service level change in Emergency Medical Services, ongoing investment in critical infrastructure, and the impact of high inflation rates,” said Warden Ketchabaw. “The proposed tax rate increase of 2.07% is possible because of recent real growth in assessment, operational efficiencies, and the deferral of some capital projects that should not impact service in the near term. Elgin’s Leadership Team is to be commended for putting this draft budget package together.”

    The County is offering citizens opportunities to review and provide input on the draft 2023 Budget, including an in-person Community Conversation open house on Monday, February 6, 2023 from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the County Administration Building (1st Floor) 450 Sunset Drive, St. Thomas. Citizens can review the budget, provide feedback and ask questions of County staff and members of Council. Pre-registration is not required.

    The County’s Investing in Elgin webpage (https://engageelgin.ca/investinginelgin) also includes other important information, such as key dates, the budget process timeline and important documents including the draft Budget. This page will help the community navigate the budget approval process and see what is being proposed in 2023. Print copies of the budget are available at the main reception desk at the County Administration Building.

    Written comments can be sent to:

    Jenna Fentie, Deputy Clerk

    450 Sunset Drive, St. Thomas ON N5R 5V1
    Telephone: 519-631-1460 x. 156
    Email: jfentie@elgin.ca


    The County’s Financial Services team is happy to have a conversation about the budget and can be reached by email: budget@elgin.ca or by phone 519-631-1460 x. 107.

    Council’s budget reviews will take place on February 14th and February 28th, with approval targeted for sometime in March 2023. All information gathered through the public consultation period will be presented to Council for further consideration at its meeting on February 28, 2023.

    For media inquiries, please contact:

    Warden Ed Ketchabaw
    warden@elgin.ca
    519-619-8432

Page last updated: 24 Mar 2023, 07:24 AM