Budget survey allows residents input to taxes

Jeff Helsdon, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Unhappy with your municipal tax bill?

The Oxford County budget survey gives residents a chance to have their say on both the Oxford County and Town of Tillsonburg budgets.

The survey is laid out in an informative manner, clearly explaining which services are county and which are municipal. Residents have the choice of choosing the importance of individual items, and to provide a rating of reducing the service, maintaining the service or increasing the service.

“It’s well laid out this year,” said Tillsonburg Mayor Deb Gilvesy. “It really defines the roles of the municipality versus the roles of the county.”

Unhappy with your municipal tax bill?

The Oxford County budget survey gives residents a chance to have their say on both the Oxford County and Town of Tillsonburg budgets.

The survey is laid out in an informative manner, clearly explaining which services are county and which are municipal. Residents have the choice of choosing the importance of individual items, and to provide a rating of reducing the service, maintaining the service or increasing the service.

“It’s well laid out this year,” said Tillsonburg Mayor Deb Gilvesy. “It really defines the roles of the municipality versus the roles of the county.”

There is also a comment section in the survey.

“Obviously, there are a lot of comments about taxes in there, and the cost of taxes,” Gilvesy said.

Tillsonburg residents will receive their final tax bills in July. The bill received earlier this year, for taxes due in February and May, was based on last year’s budget. The July bill, for taxes due in August and October, will show the 2025 increases.

“That’s usually when people pay attention because it’s identified on the tax bill how much it changed from last year,” Gilvesy said.

Last year there were around 1,000 surveys submitted, which was an increase.

Asked if the surveys make a difference, Gilvesy answered, “I can’t speak for other councillors but it does make a difference for me because I’m sitting in a position where I should listen to ratepayers.”

She said 2026 will see some things out of municipal control. A retroactive wage settlement with police across the province would have resulted in a three per cent increase in 2025 until the province provided assistance.

“We’re facing the same this year as well,” she said of the 2026 budget. “It’s a significant tax increase to cover it. At this point it’s unknown if there will be provincial help.”

The simplest way to find the survey is to Google Speak Up Oxford and then click on the budget survey.