2026 Oxford County budget passes with 5-plus per cent tax hike

Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Oxford County Council approved the 2026 Business Plan and Budget in late December, authorizing a total budget of $406.1 million that includes a $278.2 million operating budget and $127.9 million in capital projects.

The amount of money collected through taxation is $96.7 million resulting in a $77 increase or 5.3 per cent for Tillsonburg residents.

The document was approved after a marathon meeting that saw seven councillors put forward 23 motions. Some were to add money to the budget but most were to take money out, mainly in the area of new employment positions being created at the county.

Tillsonburg Mayor Deb Gilvesy was one of three who voted against the budget in a recorded vote.

“I’m disappointed that the county levy began at 7.3 per cent and ultimately rose to 7.7 per cent, resulting in a 5.3 per cent tax increase for all residents outside Woodstock, and 5.2 per cent for Woodstock due to their independent library service,” she said. “Over the past four years, levy increases of 6.3 per cent, 16.7 per cent, 6.6 per cent, and now 7.7 per cent average out to 9.2 per cent annually—far beyond economic reality. With the loss of a major employer, residents choosing between food and heat, and rising reliance on food banks, this was the time for fiscal restraint, not further pressure on ratepayers.”

Several of the motions resulted in some heated debate including one put forward by Ingersoll Mayor Brian Petrie to hire a full-time grant coordinator position with a budget hit of just over $100,000 for nine months of 2026.

Gilvesy said she isn’t confident there will be enough work for a full-time role.

“When you are writing grants you are still going to have to get your departments involved. If it’s a grant for housing we would have to get the director’s team involved to provide information. Finance is going to have their hands on every single grant. I have faith in the current staff to know how to fill out grant applications.”

The motion was ultimately passed by a vote of 6 to 4.

The total FTE increase for 2026 is 19.7. Of that, 17.1 will be funded through the library levy, general levy, user fees and recoveries, and a 50/50 cost-shared provincial grant supporting paramedic services. The remaining 2.6 FTEs are funded through other grants. Woodstock Coun. Deb Tait noted more than 100 new positions have been added since the start of this council term and the sunshine list for the county was $22 million in 2024.

“The path forward must focus on core services and essential infrastructure, reinforcing discipline and accountability,” Gilvesy said. “Staffing growth at the county has outpaced actual population growth by more than threefold. As the gate keepers of the public purse, we must listen to what our constituents are saying and what I am hearing does not align with an over 5 per cent tax increase. For these reasons and more, I could not support this budget.”

In a press release, the county said the 2026 budget places strong emphasis on health care and housing. Key investments include $400,000 for a Homelessness Support Services Fund and an increase of $600,000 annually for needs across the housing continuum, from $3 million to $3.6 million. Paramedic Services deployment and facilities review, ambulance investment, and paramedic staffing to maintain response times, and the launch of a traffic management and road safety service to respond to increasing community concerns about speeding and road safety.