Warden Marcus Ryan says the only thing worse than a 16.7 percent tax levy increase, would be a reduction of services for Oxford County residents.
OXFORD COUNTY - Oxford County Council has approved a Business Plan and Budget for 2024, that's worth $349.5 million.
Warden Marcus Ryan says it was a very challenging budget to pass because the general tax levy is set at $82.6 million, which is a 16.7 percent increase compared to 2023.
"The only thing worse than a 16.7 percent increase would be cutting the services to reduce it. The services we would have to cut to reduce it would be affordable housing, homelessness response, paramedic services, or long-term care because they made up the bulk of the increase."
Ryan adds a lot of people have been moving to Oxford lately, but not a lot of building has been happening. Municipalities are also funded by property taxes, so there's now a higher demand for municipal services and less revenue to pay for them.
The tax levy increase is also due Southwestern Public Health and the local conservation authorities increasing their levies that the County has to pay.
Ryan says there is some positive news coming out of this budget because the County is setting aside $2.1 million for transitional housing.
"There is an initiative in this budget to significantly address that in the coming year under a Homelessness Response Strategy to move people out of emergency shelters and into more sustainable and self-sufficient housing."
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