Update: December 13, 2024

2025 Business Plan and Budget approved

Oxford County Council approved the 2025 Business Plan and Budget on December 11, authorizing a total budget of $413.3 million, made up of a $288.1 million operating budget and $125.2 in capital projects. The 2025 Budget focuses on upholding health services (long-term care and paramedics), investing in roads and water and wastewater infrastructure, and carrying out special projects to meet the goals of the 2023-2026 Strategic Plan.

The County share of municipal property taxes, collected from each of Oxford's eight area municipalities through a tax levy, is $89.8 million for 2025. This will result in a $80 increase for the year for the average residential taxpayer, an overall 6.6% increase to what residential property owners paid for County services last year.

The County’s $125.2 million capital plan for 2025 includes investment in water and wastewater infrastructure, roads and bridges, building upgrades for social housing and Woodingford Lodge, and other infrastructure projects.

Read the news release

Update: November 13, 2024

2025 Draft Business Plan and Budget released

2025 Draft Budget

Oxford County Council receives the DRAFT 2025 Business Plan and Budget on November 13, 2024. 

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.

Special budget meetings

Special budget meetings of Oxford County Council for the 2025 Budget and Business Plan take place:

Special Council Meeting 1: November 20, 2024 - 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
Special Council Meeting 2: November 25, 2024 - 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
Consideration of budget at regular Council Meeting: December 11, 2024 - 9:30 am

Please check back for more updates on the 2025 Budget.

 

 

About the 2025 Budget survey

2025 Budget survey resultsThe 2025 Budget survey was open for public feedback from June 12 to August 30, 2024. The annual survey is an opportunity for residents to have a say on which services should be a priority in the upcoming budget year.

A total of 1,136 people responded to the budget survey this year, with 62% indicating the value they receive for County tax dollars is fair or good, and 24% indicating they receive poor value. More than 650 comments were received through the survey, spanning housing, children’s services, long-term care, paramedic services and roads.

For more information or to see the survey results, visit Speak Up, Oxford!

Infographic: Highlights from the 2024 Budget Survey - Oxford County results

 

 

 About the Oxford County budget and tax levy
 

Oxford County's annual business plan and budget is guided by Council’s strategic priorities as set out in the Strategic Plan. The County's fiscal year is from January 1 to December 31.

Oxford County residents do not pay taxes directly to the County. The County tax levy is added to the tax bill in each area municipality and then transferred to the County from Blandford-Blenheim, East Zorra-Tavistock, Ingersoll, Norwich, South-West Oxford, Tillsonburg, Woodstock and Zorra. The County's annual budget is then financed by these tax levies as well as government funding, reserve funding, and fees from development charges, water and wastewater, etc. 

Tax levies collected by the County are used to: 

  • maintain and manage County infrastructure, including bridges and highways, drinking water, wastewater, and garbage and recycling;   
  • deliver social services, ambulance, and long-term care services directed by the provincial government;
  • provide development and community planning for each area municipality and the County as a whole;          
  • maintain county-wide information systems, library services and archives; and,   
  • administer the Provincial Offences Court.