Grey County Council gives first approval to 2025 budget

Grey County Council has given first approval to the 2025 budget. Grey County Council discussed the budget a special Committee of the Whole meeting on December 13. The total operating and capital budget to deliver programs and services and maintain infrastructure in 2025 is $302.4 million. A total of $78.4 million will be collected through the County property levy. This results in an increase to the levy of 3.33%.

The 2025 budget will maintain service levels and take action to prepare for the growth of our communities and demands on County services. Significant projects within the budget include the ongoing redevelopment and expansion of Rockwood Terrace, the construction of a paramedic base in Durham and a new paramedic base in Feversham, a new patrol depot for transportation services in southern Grey County, and other projects.

The budget also maintains Grey County’s commitment to asset management and investing an additional 2.55% towards infrastructure each year for 15 years beginning in 2025. This is an increase of nearly 1% over the County’s previous asset management plan.

Other factors outside of Grey County’s control also have an impact on service levels and the budget. Changes to provincial funding, general inflation, utility costs and insurance costs are all factors. 

“Setting the annual budget is often the most difficult task of the year for a council. It takes months of preparation before a draft comes together and staff and council take great care in setting appropriate service levels,” said Grey County Warden Andrea Matrosovs. “The 2025 budge keeps Grey County on target for several strategic initiatives while keeping the necessary levy increase at a manageable level.”

The 2025 Grey County budget benefited from additional investment in long-term care from the Government of Ontario as well as strong assessment growth.

The Grey County budget supports the delivery of community services including three long-term care homes, administering Ontario Works, early learning and childcare, 1,003 units of County-owned housing, supporting 550 units of non-profit housing, and providing approximately 10,500 nights of emergency shelter. Grey County Paramedics provide emergency response and ambulance service and community paramedicine.  Grey County supports businesses and entrepreneurs with economic development programs and services like the Business Enterprise Centre and the Sydenham Campus.  Grey Roots Museum and Archives welcomes thousands of visitors each year and helps preserve local history and tell the stories of the community. Transportation services maintain more than 887 kilometers of roads and hundreds of bridges and large culverts, keeping our roadways safe for residents and visitors.

The draft 2025 budget details are available at www.grey.ca/budget. A final version will be prepared based on Council’s revisions and presented at the January 9 meeting of Grey County Council.

For more information about the 2024 budget email communications [at] grey.ca (communications[at]grey[dot]ca).

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For media inquiries contact Rob Hatten, communications manager, at rob.hatten [at] grey.ca (rob[dot]hatten[at]grey[dot]ca) or call 519-373-1592.