The 2024 budget for Lambton County comes with a tax rate hike of 5.5 per cent.
The $284 million document, approved this morning in Wyoming, includes $3 million to be added to the affordable housing reserve fund, up from a $2 million contribution in 2023.
Councillors took part in a lengthy discussion about the funding allocation.
Bill Dennis said if they continue to give people everything they need to survive, they have no incentive to better themselves and get a job.
"What troubles me so much is we are getting generations of people reliant on government," said Dennis. "It's like we're taking care of these people from the cradle to the grave. I don't mind helping the working poor who have two or three jobs. It's very, very wrong in this country when people are working 40 to 50 hours a week and still have to use the food bank. But, I for the life of me am sick and tired of people playing the system, sleeping on the streets, they have nobody to blame but themselves. I'm tired of paying for peoples' bad decisions."
Warwick Township Mayor Todd Case said there's an economic and social balance they have to see through.
"At the end of the day, this is our responsibility," said Case. "These problems, these issues, no matter where they were created and no matter how much funding we get from the feds or the provincial government, this does fall on our desk to deal with. This is our responsibility to deal with."
Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley says housing and shelter is a number one priority for county council.
"Even though I'm not comfortable with the outcome on the budget number on the levy, it's an investment straight back into our communities to deal with people that need shelter," said Bradley. "Again, I applaud the county for the steps in the last year that have made a huge difference."
The budget also includes $400,000 towards an engineering study for a traffic circle or roundabout at the intersection of Petrolia Line and Kimball Road.
The 5.5 per cent hike represents an increase of $26 per $100,000 of residential assessment, not including municipal and education taxes.
A motion brought forward by Point Edward Mayor Bev Hand to take one percent from reserves to limit the impact on the tax levy was defeated.
Petrolia Mayor Brad Loosley was one of a handful of councillors to vote against the budget.
"Five years ago we were at $39 to $40 million, we're now at $80 million and we're drawing money out," said Loosley. "So in five years we've doubled our reserves, which I think is reasonable. My concern is when is enough, enough."
St. Clair Township Mayor Jeff Agar, Oil Springs Mayor Ian Veen, City/County Councillor Bill Dennis and Plympton-Wyoming Deputy Mayor Netty McEwen also voted against the budget.