A mega-hospital funding increase to $3.89 million this year and $1 million to improve affordable housing units are two highlights of County Council’s 2019 budget.
Essex County Council approved a 1.43 per cent increase in its $102.9 million levy Wednesday night.
The tax increase is less than the annual rate of inflation and works out to an increase of $13.63 on a home assessed at $200,000. Residents won’t see that on a tax bill though because the taxes for the county, the municipality government and education are lumped together.
County council agreed to boost its funding for the proposed $2-billion plan for a mega-hospital in east Windsor off County Road 42 by $1.2 million for a total of $3.89 million being set aside this year. The county is putting aside funds for the hospital for 10 years.
Essex County’s new Warden Gary McNamara was in meetings Thursday and couldn’t be reached for detailed comments but said in a news release the county is investing in the future.
“That hospital will dramatically improve health care for Essex County residents for generations to come.”
The budget also includes a more than $1 million commitment in a five-year plan for the region to repair and maintain aging affordable housing units. The budget did not include money for new units.
“The affordable housing crunch is a province-wide problem but it is one the county is committed to addressing,” McNamara said.
The budget also includes improvements to roads and trails. More than $30 million in road construction projects are planned for 2019 in Essex County. An extra $1.4 million was added for the capacity expansion budget for roads.
For trails or what is often called the County Wide Active Transportation System, the budget has an extra $100,000 in funding. The county is planning eight paved shoulder projects totalling about 12 kilometres and $2.2 million investment this year.
County councillors heard the county government has a credit rating of AA+ with a stable outlook.
The next County Council meeting is Feb. 6.