2025 Draft County Budget presented to County Council

Wyoming, ON - Lambton County Council will be considering a net increase of 4.8% to the County property tax levy when it meets to discuss the County's 2025 budget at the Council meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 5, 2025.

The 2025 Draft County Budget was presented during the Committee of the Whole meeting in Wyoming on Wednesday, February 19. The draft document calls for $101.2 million to be raised through local property taxes and total spending of $312.3 million.

The proposed 4.8% tax increase is comprised of a base budget increase of 5.3% to maintain existing service levels, and an additional investment into the Affordable Housing Reserve generating an increase of 0.6%. An assessment growth increase of 1.1% assisted in containing the proposed tax increase to 4.8% presented to Council.

The proposed $600,000 investment increase into the Affordable Housing Reserve in the 2025 Draft Budget will bring the total contributions to the fund to $3.6 million this year. In addition, the Draft Budget calls for the allocation of $18.6 million to other various reserves and reserve funds in 2025. The County uses these reserves to finance large, necessary projects that may arise in the future or to pay for unexpected opportunities and emergencies.

Council will also consider funding towards the Emergency Medical Services Master Plan projects, including the development of a new headquarters for the department, along with an increase in ambulance service level.

In addition, Council will consider an additional grant request of $900,000 from the Western Sarnia-Lambton Research Park through the County of Lambton Community Development Corporation.

Budget deliberations are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., Wednesday, March 5, 2025 and if required, will continue at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, March 19. Deliberations will be livestreamed and made available for archival viewing through the meeting calendar on the County's website at lambtononline.ca/meetings.

The 2025 Draft County Budget is available to view online at lambtononline.ca/budget.

-30-

Please contact:

Kevin Marriott
Warden
County of Lambton
519-381-6111
Email Warden Marriott

Lisa Leggate
Communications & Marketing Coordinator
County of Lambton
519-845-0801 ext. 5214
Email Lisa Leggate