By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press
Council for the County of Essex received a pre-budget report on the current status of the 2025 Budget during the November 6 meeting.
The report also detailed key changes made to the process and documents to improve transparency, based on feedback received last year.
The report to County Council was meant to “outline the changes in the process for the 2025 budget deliberations. These adjustments are intended to improve the flow of information and ensure Council has the necessary tools to engage in thorough and informed budget discussions.” The formal budget process kicked-off in May, Melissa Ryan, Director of Financial Services/Treasurer, explained.
After an initial department review, the levy increase was projected to be $17.3M (11.16%). The Senior Leadership Team then conducted a review and brought that down to $11.4M (6.37%).
The report details that out of the around $11.5 million increase, around $4 million is in relation to contractual increases. There is also a $950,000 increase in spending to begin addressing the Asset Management Plan (AMP) gap that was identified earlier this year, as well as a $1.5 million contribution to the Expansion Reserve to ensure the County has adequate funding for growth projects.
The complete Draft 2025 Budget was released to Council on Thursday, November 7, 2024, and will be available to members of the public on November 14, 2024. Budget Deliberations for the County of Essex will begin on November 28, where County Council will start to go through budget items and work towards finding what they believe will be an appropriate tax rate for 2025.
The Report adds that following consultations with local municipal partners, Municipal Tax Experts, and EWSWA, it has been determined that the organics program special area rate costs will be deferred until January 2026 for all local municipal partners.
Members of Essex County Council approved a 4.95% tax increase in 2024, taking $403,000 from the Rate Stabilization Reserve. 2024 Budget Deliberations began with a proposed 6.13% increase.
Kingsville Deputy Mayor Kim DeYong expressed appreciation for the changes made to the process.
Four new hires approved in principle ahead of 2025 Budget Deliberations
The additional positions of a Logistics Technician and a Manager of Employee Wellness for Essex-Windsor EMS, a Business Analyst for the Information Technology Department, and a Planning Division Co-op Student for the Infrastructure & Planning Services Department were approved in principle at the November 6 County of Essex Council meeting.
This way, they will be included in the 2025 budget deliberation process. So were an additional four-hours per day, seven days per week, for the Food Service Worker position to support the Food and Nutrition Services Department at Sun Parlor Home. Existing funding from the Ministry of Long-Term Care can be reallocated for this position.
In addition, approval was provided to the Legislative & Legal Services Department to pursue a 10-month Articling Student to replace a Legal Co-op Student in 2026. Recruitment would take place in the spring of 2025, which was why approval was sought now.
In 2024, during the last budget deliberation process, County Council requested that staffing requests be presented in advance of the 2025 Budget process for approval in principle. In following that direction, a report was presented to County Council at last week’s meeting that asked for approval in principle for the four proposed staff positions, additional shift hours, and transition from co-op to articling resources ahead of the 2025 Budget. Another five positions were requested by staff, but were not brought forward to Council.
Kyla Pritiko, Director of Human Resources, presented the report on this matter to County Council.
The Report explained Essex-Windsor EMS Logistics Technician would add to the existing complement which includes two Logistics Technicians, one Vehicle Services Technician, and one Vehicle Services Technician Summer Student. Logistics Technicians are responsible for ensuring that all consumable supplies needed for patient care are readily available for paramedics.
The Essex-Windsor EMS Manager of Employee Wellness position would oversee the planning, development, management, and evaluation of EMS-specific well-being programs designed to enhance the psychological and physical health of employees.
The Business Analyst position would enhance support for internal County operations and improve IT service delivery. This new role would focus on tasks to streamline workflows, optimize resource use, and ensure technology solutions align with the needs of all departments.
The Planning Division Co-op student would be for a four-month term, from May to August in 2025. The Planning Division is seeking to transition from one-time Rate Stabilization funding to more permanent levy funding to support this Co-op Student role on an ongoing annual basis.
As there are some cost-sharing agreements, and the hires would not be on the books for the entire 2025 year as it will take time to fill the positions, if all positions are approved as proposed, the total cost to the County would result in a net levy impact of $193,336.66 for the 2025 fiscal year, the report notes.
The report highlights the County of Essex currently employs a total of 898 full and part-time employees.