Investing in Elgin

Elgin County would like to remind residents and businesses of a crucial event happening today - the Public Budget Committee Meeting. This meeting is your opportunity to have a say in decisions that directly impact our community's services, programs, and infrastructure.

Date: Tuesday, February 13th, 2024

Time: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Location: Elgin County Administration Building, 450 Sunset Drive, St. Thomas, ON (or virtually via Zoom)

Zoom Link: https://elgin-ca.zoom.us/j/83783968121?pwd=O2NYhfpRB1yviUGOSMvmXf4HS7Ybak.1

Each year, Elgin County's Warden and County Council, with input from residents and businesses like you, allocate resources and make important decisions before finalizing the budget. Your input is invaluable in shaping the future of our county.

Whether you prefer attending in person or virtually, your presence and feedback are highly encouraged. For those attending virtually, please click the Zoom link provided above to access the meeting.

Community Conversation: February 8th – February 15th, 2024

Additionally, we're holding a Community Conversation from February 8th to February 15th, 2024. This is another opportunity for you to share your thoughts, ideas, and concerns regarding the budget.

Whether you attend the meeting or not, we invite you to submit your feedback using our budget feedback form between February 8th and February 15th. Your input will help ensure that the budget reflects the needs and priorities of our community.

Your participation in the budget process is vital in shaping Elgin County's future. Together, let's work towards a prosperous and vibrant community that meets the needs of all its residents and businesses.

Thank you for your engagement and commitment to our community's well-being.

The purpose of this meeting was to allow the Director of Financial Services/Treasurer to present the Budget Committee with the updated 2024 Proposed Budget.

Below is a recap of this meeting:

Southwestern Public Health (SWPH) Budget

• An analysis of the recent budget sent to Elgin County from SWPH indicates that the funding provided by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is eroding and is lower than 70%.
• SWPH budget increase from 2023 to 2024 is calculated to be 9% which is above the Ministry’s 1% increase. Once Board approved, the overage falls on Municipal Partners to provide in good faith.

Community & Cultural Services Budget Adjustments

• $10K for proposed increase for Museum has been removed for further discussion as a discretionary item
• As originally presented to budget committee:
  • A contracted position has been added to be funded through donations received in the year and offset by previously received donations such as the Bushell Estate. The contracted position has no impact on the levy

Corporate Activities

• Contained within the Corporate Activities department are the taxation amounts for the levy, payments in lieu, supplemental taxes and write-offs as well as other non-specific departmental revenue and debt components of the County Budget.
• Growth is an annual factor that will affect how much the levy needs to be increased to further support the County’s budget needs.
• In recognition of the fact that the County does not have development charges, Council created a growth reserve to recognize new growth by setting it aside. This practice is expected to support the County’s future additional budget pressures that will ultimately result from new growth.

For more details on the January 30th Budget Committee Meeting, please access the following link: https://shorturl.at/bsFGU

Budget Committee Meeting Video - January 30, 2024

The purpose of this meeting was to allow County departments to present the Budget Committee with their 2024 Proposed Budgets.

Below is a recap of this meeting:

Homes & Seniors Services
Provide 24/7 person-centered care and services across the County of Elgin’s three (3) Long-Term Care Homes (LTCHs):

• Bobier Villa in Dutton – 57 Beds
• Elgin Manor in St. Thomas – 90 Beds
• Terrace Lodge in Aylmer – 100 Beds

Proposed 2024 Budget

• Bobier Villa: $438.8K
• Elgin Manor: $783.1K
• Terrace Lodge: $809.8K

Corporate Facilities
Corporate Facilities staff maintain twelve (12) facilities:

• Elgin County Administration Building
• Elgin County Heritage Centre
• Elgin County Provincial Offences Administration (POA) Building
• Three (3) Long-Term Care Homes
• Four (4) Ambulance Stations
• Elgin Manor Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP)
• Whites Station Garage (Fruitridge line)

Proposed 2024 Budget

• Bobier Villa: $397.8K
• Elgin Manor: $772K
• Terrace Lodge: $403.8K
• Administration Building, POA & Heritage Centre: $349K
• Ambulance Stations, WWTP & White Station: $25K

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

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.

This Presentation can be accessed at the following link: https://rb.gy/o8j5dd

Budget Committee Meeting Video - November 14th, 2023

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

Budget Committee Meeting Video

The 2024 Budget Process has officially begun. Stay tuned for updates from each Elgin County Budget Committee Meeting.