Picton, ON – The County of Prince Edward has approved the 2025 municipal operating and capital budgets.
“This fiscally responsible budget allows the municipality to maintain the services the community relies on while also investing in critical infrastructure such as roads,” Mayor Steve Ferguson says. “We focused on holding steady as we work to finalize in 2025 the long-term plan for maintaining, repairing, and keeping all of our assets in good working condition.”
The tax-supported operating budget of $81.0 million — $54.0 million raised through taxation — will fund the delivery of services such as road and bridge maintenance, garbage pick-up, policing, recreational programs, emergency services, libraries, museums, community services, and long-term care.
The approved budgets funded by municipal taxes require a rate increase of 3.79 per cent, or approximately an additional $44.72 for each $100,000 in assessed value.
The capital budget of $59.6 million for 2025 will pay for road repair, construction, and replacement and the equipment to support that work, an emergency vehicle, and improvements to several municipal buildings and properties.
Municipal Financial Relief Program continues
The Municipal Financial Relief Program to support low-income households in Prince Edward County will continue in 2025. Council set aside $473,000 for the program.
Households earning less than $32,240 (single income) or $64,480 (family income) will be able to apply to one of two streams of the program:
- Qualifying tenants who pay for water and wastewater services can apply for $350 toward their water bill.
- Qualifying homeowners can apply for $750 toward their property tax account.
Households earning less than $20,000 will be able to apply for one of two streams:
- Qualifying tenants who pay for water and wastewater services can apply for $500 toward their water bill.
- Qualifying homeowners can apply for a credit of $1,000 toward their property tax account.
County Council also directed staff to explore additional supports for qualifying residents. Staff will report back to Council in the third quarter of 2025 so that any recommendations can be considered in the 2026 budget.
Roads reconstruction and rehabilitation highlights
The 2025 capital budget includes $3.6 million directed to rural roads rehabilitation to continue with the implementation of the Council-approved five-year road improvement plan.
Council approved $3.0 million for the reconstruction of County Road 1 from the roundabout to Mallory Road and $1.7 million for the reconstruction of County Road 3 from Civic Address 1460 west for 1 km.
The capital plan for 2025 includes the rehabilitation of County Road 49 if funding applications to upper levels of government are successful. The municipality has applied for $20 million from Housing-Enabling Core Services Fund to support rehabilitation. The project will be cost shared, with advocacy underway for federal support to fill the $24 million gap. The municipal contribution of $7.8 million was set aside in the 2024 budget for the urban portion of County Road 49, also known as third phase of Picton Main Street reconstruction.
Additional highlights from the 2025 budget include:
- $390,000 to support the ongoing recruitment and retention of family physicians to practice in Prince Edward County. Learn more about this initiative on the County Doc recruitment and retention website.
- Funding for community groups and activities including:
- Community grants under $15,000 ($144,716). This program is administered by The County Foundation
- $108,793 to support the work of the ward recreation committees
- Prince Edward Learning Centre Tax Program ($80,000)
- Prince Edward Fitness and Aquatic Centre ($70,000)
- Community Care for Seniors ($27,390)
- Food security ($20,000, distributed to eight entities/programs)
Water and wastewater budgets
Council also approved the water and wastewater capital budget of $479,600 and the operating budget of $11.9 million. The water and wastewater budget is supported entirely by rates; no property taxes go toward water and wastewater services. The water and wastewater rates for the period of 2022-2026 were approved through a Council by-law in 2021.
The 2022-2026 Water and Wastewater Rate Study sees all capital improvements funded by debt. Debt payments are included in the water and wastewater operating budgets.
A Water and Wastewater Rates Community Working Group has been established to help inform the water and wastewater rates for 2027 – 2031.