Middlesex County Council Meeting Highlights – March 28, 2023
Council Highlights is an informal summary of selected actions taken by Middlesex County Council or Committee of the Whole at business meetings. The Council Highlights are not an official record of County Council proceedings. To view official agendas and minutes, please visit Council Meetings and Minutes.
2023 Budget Adopted
Middlesex County Council adopted the 2023 Budget with a focus on meeting the current budgetary challenges facing municipalities in Ontario. Despite inflation, recruitment challenges, rising interest rates, growth, and supply chain delays, the budget invests in critical projects and services, such as additional personal support workers and electronic health record software for Strathmere Lodge, system enhancements and additional staffing in the Middlesex-London Paramedic Service (MLPS), and improvements to roads, bridges, and cycling lanes. The budget also prioritizes social service programs that support our most vulnerable (food security, mental health and well-being), our businesses, families and our children. While the final tax rate increase is 8.41%, Middlesex County still maintains one of the lowest upper-tier tax rates in Southwestern Ontario. Homeowners will see an increase of $33.45 per $100,000 of the value of the property according to its MPAC assessment. Overall, the 2023 Budget demonstrates Middlesex County's commitment to providing essential services and maintaining a responsible financial outlook. For more information, interested parties can review the March 14, 2023 and March 20, 2023 Budget Meetings of County Council.
MPAC Property Assessment in Ontario
The Committee of the Whole received a delegation from the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) on property assessment in Ontario. All properties in Ontario are assessed and classified by MPAC. The last province-wide Assessment Update took place in 2016, based on a January 1, 2016 valuation date. In 2020, the province-wide assessment update was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review, on November 4, 2021, the Province announced its decision to again postpone the assessment update. Property values for the 2022 and 2023 tax years continue to be based on a January 1, 2016 valuation date. To learn more about MPAC and property assessment, see MPAC Property Assessment in Ontario.
Next Steps in Childcare: Access and Inclusion
The Committee of the Whole heard an update on the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, with respect to the Access and Inclusion Childcare Framework. In January, 2023, County staff worked with the City of London to develop a current population analysis using available data to evaluate which municipalities in the County could be considered “greatest need” of enhanced childcare supports. In January, the Province communicated expectations for the number of childcare spaces to be opened under the Inclusion and Access Framework. The expectation for Middlesex-London was listed as 2,080 spaces for children aged 0-6, to be opened between 2022 and 2026. The County value was set at 320 spaces out of the 2,080 available spaces for London and Middlesex. For more information on childcare in the County, visit Children Services and see the Access and Inclusion Childcare Framework report.
Renewal of LEADS Employment Services – Skills that Work Program
County Council approved a recommendation to renew the Skills That Work program until December 31st, 2023, with an option to renew until March 31, 2024. LEADS Employment Services is an agency that is contracted by Middlesex County to deliver an employment preparation program (Skills That Work) to clients that have been identified as having barriers to personal management/life skills and securing sustainable employment. In 2022, the Skills That Work program saw many positive outcomes including 24 participants, 10 successful clients of the program, and 11 clients who secured full or part time employment. For more information on the program and other employment services at the County visit Middlesex County Employment.
Sale of Timber Tender Awarded
County Council accepted the Sale of Timber tender submitted by Townsend Lumber Inc. for the harvesting of select trees in the Bayne and McMaster Tracts. The Bayne & McMaster Tracts are woodlots owned by Middlesex County located within the Municipality of Southwest Middlesex and contain pine plantations that are scheduled to be selectively harvested. Silviculture management is a Sustainable Forest Management activity and includes timber harvesting, regeneration, forest health improvement, and control of invasive species. The thinning of the plantations will encourage the continued growth and health of the remaining trees. Revenue received as a result of the tender award will be transferred to the woodlands reserve fund and be utilized to finance woodland capital projects for direct management costs. For more information on woodlands conservation check out Management and Conservation of Middlesex County owned Woodlots.
Recommendations made by the Committee of the Whole at the March 28, 2023 meeting will be considered by County Council at its next regular meeting on April 11, 2023. The Legislative Services Department maintains the official record for all County government proceedings.
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