Grey County Council has given initial approval to its 2025 budget, with a total operating and capital plan of $302.4 million.
The budget, discussed during a special Committee of the Whole meeting on December 13, includes a $78.4 million property levy, reflecting a 3.33 percent increase.
“Setting the annual budget is often the most difficult task of the year for a council. It takes months of preparation before a draft comes together, and staff and council take great care in setting appropriate service levels,” said Grey County Warden Andrea Matrosovs. “The 2025 budget keeps Grey County on target for several strategic initiatives while keeping the necessary levy increase at a manageable level.”
Key initiatives include the redevelopment and expansion of Rockwood Terrace, new paramedic bases in Durham and Feversham, and a patrol depot for southern Grey County. The budget also prioritizes infrastructure, with an additional 2.55 percent allocated annually for 15 years, beginning in 2025.
Other factors influencing the budget include changes to provincial funding, inflation, and rising utility and insurance costs.
The County’s 2025 budget supports services such as long-term care, county-owned housing, emergency shelters, early learning and childcare programs, housing, and economic development. Paramedics provide both emergency response and community paramedicine services. Transportation services maintain over 887 kilometres of roads and hundreds of bridges and culverts.
The 2025 budget also benefited from increased provincial investment in long-term care and strong assessment growth within the county.
A finalized version of the budget will be presented on January 9. Full details are available at www.grey.ca/budget.
