Essex County residents will likely be paying more in property taxes in 2025.
County councillors received a report Wednesday evening on the forthcoming draft budget for next year, which will be available for public review on November 14.
Essex County Director of Financial Services and Treasurer Melissa Ryan introduced the report, which indicated that a higher proposed tax hike was brought down.
"Administration initiated the budget process in August of 2024, and after gathering all departmental requests, the initial tax rate increase was projected at 11.16 per cent," read the report presented to County Council. "Following a thorough review by Finance, the CAO, and the Senior Leadership Team, we have made significant reductions, bringing the current proposed levy increase to 6.37 per cent."
The levy increase translates to almost $11.5-million, $4-million of which covers contractual salary increases, and includes negotiated salary increases that were presented to councillors in 2023 and 2024.
The report also stated that the special charges to local municipalities for the new mandatory organic waste collection program, set to begin in fall 2025, will be deferred to January 2026.
Councillors will begin budget deliberations on November 28.