Norfolk approves 2025 budget

Luke Edwards

Advocate Correspondent

The median assessed Norfolk household will pay about $155 more in property taxes in 2025.

Council approved the 2025 budget at the Jan. 22 council meeting, following a final budget committee meeting the week prior. The Jan. 22 meeting did include one potential tweak from the budget committee recommendation regarding requests from the Norfolk County Public Library for money to hire staff.

The increase came in well below targets that were set earlier in 2024, when council set a residential property tax increase target of 7.5 per cent. The final total came in at 4.3 per cent.

The levy itself is set to increase 6.1, also well below some earlier estimates. Assessment growth and provincial support helped bring those numbers down, said Mayor Amy Martin, though she also credited staff for the work they did.

“Four per cent is still very difficult for a lot of our residents. We will take a lens from the top down and look at everything with prudent financial management top of mind,” she said as they dove into the presentation.

In a statement following the budget committee meeting, Martin called the budget “a reflection of our commitment to responsible and sustainable financial management.

“In a time of ongoing economic pressures beyond our control, this budget showcases our efforts to secure meaningful savings wherever possible and invest in critical infrastructure and the delivery of valuable community programs, while balancing our need to invest in Norfolk’s future.”

Increases in infrastructure funding is the main driver, as the county continues its work to address an infrastructure gap and deal with debt servicing costs. 

Staff did recommend a few new budget initiatives that increased service levels. They include: An additional $346,500 for its stormwater management program, $301,000 to strengthen paramedic services, $150,000 for a new traffic engineering specialist, $131,000 for a facilities capital projects lead, $150,000 for a realty services specialist, and $109,700 for a network/system analyst.

Martin did attempt to have the realty services specialist funding removed, suggesting they have a good team in place and while this year’s increase is reasonable, that funding will remain for years to come.

“I’m not sold on the realty services specialist,” she said, asking why that position was prioritized by staff.

“It’s in response to several blind spots we have as a country right now,” CAO Al Meneses replied.

Martin’s motion to remove that from the budget was defeated, meaning it remains on the levy.

There were several additional discretionary items that staff left off the budget while seeking direction from committee. They included: $25,000 for the North Shore Resilience Project, $35,000 for the Haldimand Norfolk Housing Corporation, and a proposal to remove $317,400 from revenues generated by the marina that offset the general levy.

The latter proposal was part of the county’s move to turn the municipally owned marinas in Port Dover and Port Rowan into self-sufficient entities. The money would be redirected to the marinas’ reserve fund.

These were all approved at budget, as was an additional item for the county to continue its membership in the South Central Ontario Region Economic Development Corporation. This decision has no impact on the 2025 budget, as it was for membership continuing in 2026.

The items from the library went undiscussed at the budget meeting. The requests included $129,400 for a programming and outreach manager, $62,400 for a training and development coordinator, and $105,400 for two new part-time library assistants.

NCPL CEO Julie Kent said the increases were needed as the library has continued to increase its programming, developing innovative and popular programs like its film and sound studio, while also providing services like its designation as a warming and cooling centre.

Kent said they want to “remain a vibrant and inclusive hub for Norfolk’s diverse population.”

The part-time staff would help the library provide similar hours at all branches.

However, committee voted on the overall budget recommendations before discussing those requests. A request for reconsideration at the budget meeting didn’t meet the two thirds requirement, forcing councillors to raise it at the Jan. 22 meeting, when Coun. Kim Huffman sought approval to include a budget increase to cover the proposed two new part-time library assistants.

“They (libraries) are vital to our community and I’d like to see our hours expand and be equitable for every taxpayer in the region,” she said.

Huffman’s motion was defeated, meaning the library won’t be receiving funding for any of their budget requests. Martin said while she initially supported the idea, she was worried by the fact the county had already sent out communication regarding the budget, and adding to the increase could cause confusion.