Every year, residents of Prince Edward County pay some of the highest property taxes in Ontario. And yet, many rural roads remain in disrepair, infrastructure is crumbling, and core services struggle to meet demand. With a 2024 budget topping $191.3 million, the question on everyone’s mind is simple: where is all the money going?
The County of Prince Edward approved a total of $191.3 million in operating and capital budgets for 2024. The operating budget is $75.2 million, with $50.7 million funded by taxation. The capital budget is $116.1 million, focusing on infrastructure projects like road repairs and equipment.
Key Details:
Operating Budget: $75.2 million, with $50.7 million from municipal taxes.
Capital Budget: $116.1 million, including $94.7 million for long-term care facility redevelopment (pending provincial funding).
Tax Increase: A 5.4% increase in municipal taxes, resulting in an additional $56.35 per $100,000 in assessed value.
Funding: The capital budget funds road repairs, construction, equipment, and other infrastructure improvements.
Municipal Financial Relief: The County Council approved the continuation of the Municipal Financial Relief Program to support low-income households.
Water and Wastewater: The water and wastewater operating budget is $11.9 million, funded by rates, not property taxes. The water and wastewater capital budget is $479,600.
Infrastructure: The capital budget includes funding for various projects, including Picton Main Street reconstruction ($7.8 million) and road resurfacing ($2.4 million).
Despite a 3.79% tax increase this year and over $70 million in revenue from property taxes alone, there’s no clear improvement in road quality, snow removal, or maintenance of public facilities. In fact, according to the County’s own Asset Management Plan, over 30% of local roads are in poor condition, and the backlog of infrastructure repairs continues to grow.
Residents are beginning to question how a municipality with a population of just over 25,000 can spend $191 million and still fall short on basics. Without transparent financial reporting and clear performance benchmarks, taxpayers are left in the dark.
It’s time for Shire Hall to explain—not in vague terms, but in detailed, measurable outcomes—what services are being delivered, what’s being delayed, and why costs keep rising with so little visible return.
The Housing Crunch in PEC: Who Is the County Really Building For?
Prince Edward County is facing a full-blown housing crisis—but not in the way planners imagined. New subdivisions are sprouting across the County, yet housing remains unaffordable for young families, seniors on fixed incomes, and even full-time workers.
The average home price in PEC now exceeds $800,000, and rental vacancies are near zero. Short-term vacation rentals continue to displace long-term tenants, and new developments appear to cater more to Toronto investors than to local residents. Meanwhile, the County’s population is aging, and essential services are struggling to retain staff who simply can’t afford to live where they work.
Despite this, zoning decisions, developer incentives, and housing policies seem aimed at growth for growth’s sake—not affordability or community sustainability.
Residents are asking: Who benefits from the current pace and pattern of development? And why is Council not prioritizing housing that matches the needs of its own citizens—nurses, teachers, tradespeople, and young families?
It’s time for a reset: one that focuses on affordability, not speculation; density, not sprawl; and people, not profits.