County of Essex Council Approves 2026 Budget

Essex County Council has approved a 2026 budget that is fiscally responsible and maintains service levels while making significant investments in health care and infrastructure.

“Our Strategic Plan positions Essex County as a regional champion – one that delivers high-quality services and drives both public and private investment,” said Warden Hilda MacDonald. “This budget reflects that vision. It protects the services our residents rely on while making major, forward-looking investments in health care, housing, and infrastructure. By improving our roads, expanding active transportation, enhancing EMS, and supporting the new hospital, we are laying the groundwork for long-term prosperity and growth across our region.”

The $112.9M road construction program includes $21M to repave 32.6 km of road spanning multiple municipalities. Two bridges will be replaced along with four culverts. Engineering work will be undertaken for two additional bridge and three culvert projects.

Key projects on tap for 2026 include the $2.93M rehabilitation of the Big Creek Bridge on County Road 42, the $1.83M replacement of the Lonsberry Drain Culvert on County Road 50 and the $2.19M replacement of the bridge over River Canard on County Road 12. Phase 4 of the County Road 42 improvement project will continue as will detailed design and property acquisition for the County Road 22 corridor improvement project.  Council had already pre-approved $100,000 for a transit feasibility study.

This budget invests $6.1M in the County Wide Active Transportation System, including $4.1M for the construction of about 17.8 km of paved shoulder projects that make county roads safer for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists. Paved shoulders will be installed on key active transportation corridors, including County Road 3 from County Road 8 to Canard Drive, County Road 9 from South Talbot Road to County Road 7, County Road 31 from County Road 8 to County Road 14 and on two stretches of County Road 8 from County Road 23 to Cameron Sideroad and County Road 31 to Highway 77. Also included is funding to complete paved shoulder projects in partnership with Lakeshore to complete the EC Way 100-mile loop.

This budget adds eight full-time Paramedics and two new ambulances to the frontline to support two new 12-hour day shifts for Essex-Windsor EMS. It also includes the replacement of seven ambulances, one logistics vehicle, one administrative vehicle, personal protective equipment for front-line staff and technology upgrades. Those upgrades include software to help front-line supervisors monitor real-time paramedic utilization rates and the placement of iPads in ambulances, which will result in equipment replacement cost savings going forward. Additional training hours for all staff have been added to support continuous quality improvement and modernization initiatives.

A Manager of Physical Resources will be added to the EMS team to support infrastructure and equipment readiness, and a Community Programs Coordinator will work to expand community training programs and the use of life-saving Automated External Defibrillators across the region. This budget will also fund the creation of an HR generalist to support Essex-Windsor EMS with recruitment, an ongoing challenge in a province that faces an annual shortfall of about 1,000 Paramedics.

The HR generalist will also support the recruitment and retention of health care professionals at Sun Parlor Long Term Care Home, which offers 24-7 support to more than 200 residents. This budget includes the addition of a full-time Nurse Practitioner and increased funding for life enrichment activities, a core component of resident care and regulatory requirements.

The budget includes a boost in per diem funding for the County’s residential services program, which subsidizes 226 beds for vulnerable residents in nine locations throughout the County. Also included is funding to continue operations at the Essex County Homelessness Hub, which is expected to finish the year with a 60 per cent spike in visits, and the Overnight program, which receives an average of 18 visitors per night, an increase of about 45 per cent from when it operated as a warming centre over the past two winters. Also included in the budget is $48,000 as part of an ongoing 20-year commitment to the Bridge, which provides tiny homes and supportive housing units, and $2.45M for the social housing stock reserve, an increase of $200,000 over last year.

County Council underscored its longstanding commitment to a new, state-of-the art hospital. This budget includes an additional $7M for the reserve for a new hospital. The County has committed itself to raising $100M for the new hospital and the reserve is forecast to be at $65M by the end of 2026. This budget also includes $200,000 for Erie Shores HealthCare in Leamington as part of an ongoing 10-year commitment.

“This was a challenging year, with cost pressures affecting every aspect of our operations, and our staff across all departments deserve recognition for crafting a fiscally responsible budget that stays true to our Strategic Plan,” said CAO Sandra Zwiers. “Staff carefully assessed where every dollar could have the greatest impact—maintaining vital services while making significant, targeted investments in health care, infrastructure, housing supports, and public safety.”

The 2026 budget of $145.1M represents a levy increase of 2.25% per cent or $5.1M. That translates into approximately $44.02 per $350,000 of assessment.

Highlights:

Roads: A $112.9M construction program, including $21M for road rehabilitation projects spanning 32.6 km. The replacement of two bridges and four culverts, with engineering work being undertaken for two additional bridge and three culvert replacement projects.

CWATS: $6.1M for active transportation projects, including $4.1M for about 17.8 km of paved shoulder projects in multiple municipalities.

Essex-Windsor EMS: The addition of eight full-time Paramedics and two new ambulances to support two new 12-hour day shifts. The replacement of seven ambulances, one logistics vehicle, one administrative vehicle, and personal protective equipment for front-line staff. The addition of a Manager of Physical Resources to support infrastructure and equipment readiness, and a Community Programs Coordinator, who will work to expand the usage of Automated External Defibrillators. Additional training hours for staff and funding for an HR generalist to support recruitment, an ongoing challenge in a province that faces an annual shortfall of about 1,000 Paramedics.

Sun Parlor Home: 50 per cent funding for an HR generalist to assist with recruitment and retention of health care professionals and increased funding for life enrichment activities and the addition of a full-time Nurse Practitioner.  

Housing: Continued funding of the Homelessness Hub and Overnight Program in Leamington and the continuation of a 20-year funding commitment to The Bridge. About $5.7M for the renewal of aging affordable housing stock. An increase of per diem funding for the County’s residential services program which subsidizes 226 beds for vulnerable residents.

Essex County Library: Replacement of worn furniture and funding to cover inflationary costs associated with new materials.

Hospital: A $7M investment toward Essex County’s $100M commitment to the new hospital, bringing the total that will be set aside by the end of 2026 to $65M, An investment of $200,000 for Erie Shores Health Care in Leamington as part an ongoing 10-year commitment.

Credit Rating: AAA with a stable outlook.