Budget 2022

Join us as we work through this year's budget cycle!

Many factors affect the County’s operating and capital budgets. Council sets priorities through Strategic Sessions that guide the County's annual budget planning. County Council wants to ensure financial sustainability while maintaining essential and valued services.

For example, in the past 22 months, the pandemic has strained many municipal services. In response, the County has a Financial Sustainability Management Strategy:

• Manage Assets – Asset Management Plan
• Control Spending
• Maintain Reserves
• Increase Efficiencies
• Maintain a level and realistic levy

Learn about key budget topics, view documents, infographics, and videos on this page. Historical budget documents, including the County’s financial statements, are available online.

2022 Budget Highlights

• The County's COVID response continues into 2022 with a focus on stabilization. The past 2 years have required frequent reprioritization of services to meet the demands from the pandemic. The County is well supported with provincial funding to meet the ongoing pressures.
• The initial draft 2022 budget proposes an increase of $2.1 million in levy, or 4.76% increase over 2021.
• $113 million in spending is estimated for 2022. This includes both operating and capital expenditures.
• Approximately, 45% of the draft 2022 County budget represents labour costs.
• The total Capital budget is proposed at $27 million. Sixteen million of that is for Public Works key projects. This includes County Road 84 and 30 resurfacing, Zetland Bridge rehabilitation, County Road 25/4 intersection improvements, and a downtown urban renewal.
• A total of $8.7 million in Federal Gas Tax and Provincial Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) funding is applied to specific infrastructure projects for 2022.
• The County has included ongoing modernization initiatives in the 2022 draft budget. These projects support ongoing efficiency improvements and address future labour market challenges.
• Emergency Services plans for service enhancements with more staffing at the Goderich Base. There is also a planned roll out of the Community Paramedicine program.
• The Homes for the Aged budget has ongoing COVID mitigation efforts. This includes enhanced staffing plans to support increased time for daily resident care.
  
  

2022 Budget Challenges

• Response to the pressures of COVID-19 pandemic.
• Managing operating expenditure levels in relation to inflation.
• Shifting tax burdens from declining industrial and commercial base and increasing farmland values.
• Demographic challenges such as an aging population.
• Declining grants such as Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund.
• Variable levels of senior government program funding.
• Asset management and the need to close infrastructure gap.
  
  

Let's Talk Budget!

Learn more about municipal finances and how the County of Huron builds its annual budget.