Lambton County Council has approved a net levy rate increase of 4.02% to the County property tax levy, finalizing the County’s 2023 Budget this week. The budget calls for spending $265.8 million in 2023, $89.3 million of which will be raised through local property taxes. Council agreed to contribute $2 million in 2023 towards local affordable housing options, representing a $800,000 increase over the $1.2 million contributed in 2022. This contribution, which will be supported by funding partnerships to offset the total project costs, will help increase the number of affordable housing units available in Lambton County and reduce the number of families and individuals experiencing homelessness within the community.
Council also added $100,000 to the 2023 budget to complete a preliminary design study on the intersection of County Road 4 (Petrolia Line) and County Road 31 (Kimball Road) that will outline the options of installing traffic signals or a roundabout at the intersection. The study will take place in 2023 with the results being brought back to Council for its review and consideration in the same year.
As well, $15.9 million will be directed to various reserves and reserve funds in 2023, which are used to finance large, necessary projects that may arise in the future or to pay for unexpected opportunities and emergencies.
The County of Lambton operates a wide variety of programs and services available to the public such as land ambulance, provincial offenses court, three Long-Term Care Homes, 25 library locations and related digital resources, two museums, an art gallery, archives, local roadways, public health services, housing services, social services, building services and planning and development services. The Corporation employs approximately 1,200 employees across over 40 sites.
A final version of the County’s 2023 Budget will be available online at lambtononline.ca/budget in the coming weeks
https://www.lambtononline.ca/en/county-government/budget-and-financial-statements.aspx
written by: Lambton County/C. Soares
