Preliminary budget presented to L&A County

Delving into finances, Lennox and Addington County staff presented a $112.98 million preliminary budget to council on Feb. 12. $37.8 million of this total budget will be raised through property taxes and the property tax levy will increase by 3.6 per cent or $1,304,715 from 2025.

$896,000, equivalent to 2.5 per cent of the 2024 tax levy, has been dedicated as additional funding for capital improvements to the County’s arterial road and bridge network. 

In 2025, the average residential property assessment in the County of L&A was $264,013, up from over $261,000 in 2024.

The average cost for taxpayers will be $1,585 per household which represents an increase of $70.71.

Highlights of the 2025 budget include:

• Staffing enhancements at The John M. Parrott Centre that will further augment infection control capacity as well as helping to achieve 4 hours of care and customer service excellence. 

• $19.3 million for capital improvements to county roads and bridges, including the rehabilitation work on the Odessa bridge north of the 401 on County Road 6, as well as the CNR overpass bridge on County Road 22 in Loyalist. Urban rehabilitation of County Roads 11 and 17 through the Village of Newburgh has been budgeted for in 2025. Along with new granular and asphalt, works will include new sidewalk, curbs, and storm sewers. In addition, 9.5 kms of hot mix paving and 22.2 kms of surface treated roads. The County will receive $1.48 million in federal gas tax funds and $1.08 from the Province to assist with the cost of road projects. An update to the Transportation Master Plan is planned to be completed in 2025.

 • $1,237,500 for capital repairs, equipment and furnishings for The John M. Parrott Centre and $719,700 for capital improvements to County-owned buildings.

 • $1,082,900 for capital improvements to Social Housing.

 • $75,000 per year for a ten-year period (from 2019 to 2028) for the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation capital campaign. 

• $50,000 per year for a ten-year period (from 2024 to 2033) for the Lennox and Addington County Hospital Foundation’s MRI acquisition.

The top three expenditures within the budget include an investment in roads and bridges over $896,000, materials and supplies for paramedic services over $171,000, an increase in staffing hours and equipment at the John M. Parrott Centre that will equate to over $45,000.

When speaking of enhancements, specifically to the roads and bridges budget that would bring that capital levy up from 2.5 per cent to 3 per cent, several councillors voiced concerns, especially when considering the potential impact of incoming tariffs.

“I have concerns based on what’s going on south of the border. We need to take a good, hard look at every cent we spend,” said councillor Henry Hogg.

Rather than raising annual taxes by approximately $70, this would raise them to just over $86.

In a Wise/Hogg motion, council voted to approve enhancements save for the roads and bridges capital levy increase.

In the spectre of impending US Tariffs, council also passed a resolution put forward by the Eastern Ontario Warden’s Caucus. The resolution supports the Canadian and Ontario Governments on the measures they have put in place in response to the proposed U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods. It also asks that they take any measures to protect the interests of Ontario in any upcoming trade negotiations. 

This resolution is intended to ensure municipalities are part of the coordinated Team Canada approach.