Essex approves pandemic-wary 2021 budget with no tax increase

Ratepayers in the Town of Essex will see no increase on the municipal portion of their property taxes in 2021.

“As a council, we have seen the impact of COVID-19 on residents and small business owners so it was a priority to bring a budget with no increase to our property tax rates,” Mayor Larry Snively said in a news release after council approved the town's 2021 budget.

“It's a good budget with projects spread out in every ward and area in our community.”

Snively thanked the town's administration and staff who have “worked very hard to make council's vision a reality during a difficult year.”

The budget includes funds for a number of capital projects.

More than $5 million has been earmarked for the Harrow Streetscape project and for engineering costs for the planned Essex Centre Streetscaping project.

Nearly $2 million will be spent on road repairs and roadside infrastructure. A section of Victor Street, from Victoria to Laird avenues, in Essex Centre will be reconstructed, including water main and storm sewer work, for $885,000.

More than $1.6 million has been set aside for sanitary sewer investments, including a master plan for Ward 3 and an optimization study for Harrow.

Three parks will see improvements — $150,000 will be spent for new washrooms and change rooms at the Harrow splash pad, $200,000 will be used to replace playground equipment at Hunter Park and new sidewalks at Sadler's Park will cost $35,000.

Council also approved $48,000 for upgrades at the Colchester Community Centre and $40,000 for the installation of fobaccess gates at Colchester Harbour.

And $55,000 will be spent on development of an agri-tourism strategy aimed at supporting local farm operators and attracting visitors.

“As we worked to navigate through 2020 and adapt to a new way of operating under the implementation of restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Town of Essex continues to offer value to citizens in the form of operational efficiencies and strategic investments,” Jeffrey Morrison, the town's director of corporate services-treasurer, said in the release.

The capital budget also contains a number of carry-forward projects, which were not completed in 2020 due to the impacts of COVID-19.

Four projects within the capital budget have also been scheduled for further consideration and discussion at council's meeting on Jan. 11.

The budget can be viewed online at www.essex.ca/budget.