Audited financial statements, 2024 budget schedule and survey, road safety improvements and more

County Council meetings are broadcast live at www.oxfordcounty.ca/livestream. To download the full agenda or view past recordings of council meetings, visit www.oxfordcounty.ca/council.

2022 Audited Financial Statements

Oxford County Council receives the 2022 Audited Financial Statements on June 14. The County’s financial statements show the County ended 2022 with an operating budget surplus of $3.54 million. As part of the update to Council, there is a request to use $2 million from the budget surplus to support County Council’s priorities for affordable housing and long-term care beds in our community. If approved, $1 million would be allocated to the Affordable Housing Reserve and another $1 million would be used to establish a new Long-term Care Expansion Capital Reserve, allowing the County flexibility to pursue expansion of, or a new site for, Woodingford Lodge.

Overall, the financial statements show the County is well positioned in the short and mid-term to meet its service and financial obligations, and that its strategy of strong liquidity and moderate debt burden allow the County to maintain strong financial performance and financial sustainability.

CS 2023-17: 2022 Audited Financial Statements | Audited Financial Statements

2024 Budget schedule and survey

County Council will review the proposed schedule for 2024 special budget meetings on June 14:

• Special Council Meeting #1: November 15, 2023 - 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
• Special Council Meeting #2: November 29, 2023 - 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
• Consideration of budget at regular Council Meeting: December 13, 2023 - 9:30 am

The 2024 budget survey launches on June 14 in collaboration with participating area municipalities. The survey is an opportunity for residents to learn more about municipal services and share their thoughts on where councils should prioritize funding and service levels. The survey will be available at www.oxfordcounty.ca/speakup.

CS 2023-18: 2024 Draft Budget Schedule and Budget Survey

Road safety improvements in Norwich and South-West Oxford

Oxford County is proposing a series of speed management, traffic calming and road safety measures on County roads in Springford, Curries, Foldens, Culloden, Verschoyle, Sweaburg and Dereham Centre. Depending on location, these changes encompass safety improvements such as electronic speed feedback signs, speed limit and speed zone adjustments, warning signs, flexible centre line delineators, additional street lights, and relocation of entrance gateway signage. Oxford County has been undertaking speed management, traffic calming, and road safety investigations over the past several years to further enhance safety on County roads for all users.

PW 2023-28: Speed Management and Road Safety Reviews – Springford, Curries, Foldens, Culloden, Verschoyle, Sweaburg and Dereham Centre

Backflow Prevention Program By-law Update

The findings of the public engagement campaign on the proposed Backflow prevention program is before Council next week. The program focuses on furthering the protection of the County’s water systems from potential contamination due to backflow.

Backflow can happen when there is a reversal of the normal flow in a water system that draws water from a private connection into the municipal drinking water system. To move to program implementation, County Council support is being sought for a by-law to require certain industrial, commercial, institutional and multi-residential water customers to install, and regularly test, backflow prevention devices in a manner that lowers the risk to the County’s municipal drinking water system. The by-law proposal follows extensive consultation with the public, Area Municipalities, industrial commercial and institutional (ICI) customers, building officials, business and commerce associations, and local plumbing service providers.

PW 2023-29: Backflow Prevention Program By-law Update

Other reports and presentations

• Delegation: Fanshawe College - Woodstock / Oxford Regional Campus - Services and Programs offered locally (Jennifer McLean, Associate Dean)
• Delegation: Social Planning Council Oxford - Mid-year progress update (Stephanie Ellens-Clark, Executive Director)
• Delegation: Ingersoll & Area's Indigenous Solidarity & Awareness Network (IISAN) - The Path Towards Truth and Reconciliation in Oxford County (Patricia Marshal, Director and Founder)
• Delegation: Oxford County Economic Development Partnerships - Economic Development in Oxford County (Len Magyar, Development Commissioner, City of Woodstock)
• Delegation: Road safety improvements (Joan Morris)
• Delegation: Speed limit changes (David Moura)
• Public meeting and report CP 2023-168: Application for Official Plan Amendment OP 22-26-8 – Cedar Creek Golf Club Limited & City of Woodstock
• HS 2023-09: Homelessness Prevention Program Funding Investment Plan and Annual Update

Questions or comments?                                                                   

Council this Week highlights Council activities for the public, employees and community partners. Please send your questions and comments to communications@oxfordcounty.ca