FAQs
What is included in each area of the budget?
Library and Conservation Authorities
This category includes the operating costs of Norfolk County Public Library branches and mandatory levy contributions to the Long Point and Grand River Conservation Authorities.
Police Services
Covers the cost of Norfolk County’s contract with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), along with related revenues and expenses for the OPP Detachment Board, including the False Alarm Program and overall administration of the Board.
Health and Social Services
This includes all expenditures related to Housing, Child Care, Social Assistance, Long-Term Care, and Public Health. It encompasses staff salaries and benefits, program operating costs, Provincial funding offsets, and transfer payments to meet local community needs.
Emergency Services
Captures costs for essential services such as Paramedic Services and Fire. This includes staffing for Paramedics and Volunteer firefighters, departmental administration, specialized equipment maintenance, and any applicable Provincial funding or service revenues.
Roads Operations
Reflects levy support for maintaining Norfolk’s 4,200 km of roads and 160 km of sidewalks. Costs include staffing, contracted services, materials for repairs and upkeep, and winter control services such as snow plowing.
Environmental Services
Encompasses costs for curbside waste collection (including garbage and leaf and yard waste), the County’s transfer station, bulky item pickup, hazardous and special waste programs, and monitoring of five closed landfill sites. This category also includes stormwater management services to ensure compliance with legislative requirements.
Planning and Economic Development
Costs related to Planning, GIS, the Committee of Adjustment, economic development programs, and Ride Norfolk transit services are included here. Spending in this area is primarily driven by staffing, contracted services, and general operating expenses.
Capital infrastructure
Represents the County’s investment in replacing key infrastructure. This includes transfers to reserves for future capital needs and repayment of debt related to previously approved or completed projects. It is one of the largest components of the operating budget, as it spans all County service areas.
Parks, Facilities, Recreation and Culture
This covers the operation of parks, recreation programs, community facilities, and cultural assets such as museums. It includes costs for staff, program delivery, and facility upkeep, offset in part by user fees and other revenues.
Administration
Administration consists of corporate support services, including Mayor and Council, Finance, Information Technology, Human Resources, Customer Service and Communications, Clerks and By-law Enforcement. It also covers key functions such as accessibility initiatives and corporate software that support service delivery across the organization.