2025 Budget, water and wastewater rates, updated growth forecasts 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.

2025 Business Plan and Budget

Oxford County Council receives the Draft 2025 Business Plan and Budget at the November 13 council meeting. This is the first step in Council's review and discussion of next year's budget. The final 2025 Budget, including any changes resulting from the special budget meetings, is before County Council for final approval on December 11, 2024.

Through a total proposed budget of $422.0 million, the draft budget includes:

• a $291.0 million operating budget to deliver County programs and services, including those that provide affordable housing, support for vulnerable and unhoused people, safe drinking water, traffic calming and road safety, paramedic services, long-term care at Woodingford Lodge, reliable municipal infrastructure, community planning and development, provincial offences administration, County library services, and more
• a $131.0 million capital plan for municipal infrastructure and $79.2 million in capital reserve transfers for future funding for roads, bridges, water and wastewater infrastructure, facilities, information technology and more under Oxford County's Asset Management Plan

The County share of municipal taxes, collected from each of Oxford's eight area municipalities through the tax levy, is proposed at $98.8 million for 2025. This would result in an average municipal tax increase, on an average residential household, of $137 for the year, or just under $12 a month. This number is an estimate only and subject to change through the budget process and the final MPAC (Municipal Property Assessment Corporation) assessment roll released at year-end.

Municipal property taxes fund just under a quarter of the County budget (23.4%). Other funding sources include provincial and federal funding, reserves (funds earmarked for future expenses), user fees and charges (e.g., water and wastewater rates collected by utilities), and other charges and debentures. Municipal tax increases in recent years have also been offset by growth in the County's municipal tax base as a result of population growth.

For more information and updates visit www.oxfordcounty.ca/2025budget

CS 2024-40 – 2025 Business Plans and Budget | Draft 2025 Business Plan and Budget

2025 Oxford County Library budget

The Oxford County Library 2025 Budget also comes forward on November 13. The Library’s share of the County’s proposed tax levy is $5.7 million, representing 2% of Oxford County’s 2025 Budget, a 10% increase over 2024. If approved, the proposed budget includes continued support for the Ox on the Run mobile library unit, the youth summer reading program, communication and community engagement activities, a review of e-commerce options, an organizational review and other projects.

CS 2024-41 - 2025 Oxford County Library Business Plan and Budget

2025 Water and wastewater rates

County Council receives the preliminary 2025 water and wastewater rates next Council meeting. The proposed rates, which go into effect January 1 if approved, would result in an increase for the average residential household of between $36 and $128 for the year depending on the municipal water or wastewater system.

Last year, Council approved policy changes that incorporated rate changes into the annual business plan and budget process. Water and wastewater services and infrastructure in each system are fully funded through the utility charges paid by the residents connected to that system.

CS 2024-39 - 2025 Water and Wastewater Rates

Updated growth forecasts

Oxford County and all eight area municipalities will continue to experience substantial population, household and employment growth to 2061, according to the latest proposed updates to the County’s 40-year growth forecast. Oxford County’s population is forecast to grow from 126,700 in 2021 to 223,600 in 2061, with the number of jobs expected to grow by 43,600 in the same time period. The number of households is forecast to grow by approximately 42,000, based on an average yearly increase of 1,050 new housing units. The next phases of the study will assess land supply to determine if any additional land is required to meet forecasted growth.

CP 2024-323: Phase 1 Comprehensive Review – Updates to County and Area Municipal Growth Forecasts

Other reports and presentations

• CS 2024-42: 2025 Court Security Grant Special Tax Levy
• CS 2024-43: 2025 Preliminary Assessment and Tax Analysis
• CS 2024-44: Oak Park Special Services – Internal Long-term Debt Issue - Tillsonburg
• HS 2024-12: Municipal Housing Facilities Agreement Amendment – 785 Southwood Way, Woodstock

Questions or comments?                                                       

Council this Week previews the Oxford County Council meeting agenda for residents, community partners and employees. Please send your questions and comments to communications@oxfordcounty.ca