Essex County Warden Gary McNamara called the budget for next year a "status quo" budget.
The spending plan includes a 0.9 per cent increase or another $8.72 a year for the average home valued at $200,000.
The budget includes $50-million in spending on roads and bridges, some much-needed help in the planning department, and a deputy clerk, a position McNamara called "long overdue."
The province has downloaded more to municipalities including in public health and other social services. However, McNamara said the council was able to stickhandle those increases for the next year.
Subsequent budgets may be more difficult.
"There's still a lot of grey clouds over us in terms of what further legislative changes and what effect that's going to have on our budget," McNamara explained. "Especially our 2021-22 taxation year."
An increase in property assessments helped the council meet its commitments for next year.
"Every lower-tier municipality is experiencing growth," said McNamara. "That is critical. Those are new revenues."
McNamara also called the maintenance of the county's AA+ credit rating from Standard and Poors critical to the ongoing financial health of the county.
