Middlesex County Council Meeting Highlights – January 13, 2026
Council Highlights is an informal summary of selected actions taken by Middlesex County Council or Committee of the Whole at business meetings. The Council Highlights are not an official record of County Council proceedings. To view official agendas and minutes, please visit Council Meetings and Minutes.
Middlesex County Adopts 2026 Budget
County Council passed By-law #7389 to adopt the 2026 Middlesex County Budget, which includes a 3.87% increase to the tax levy. The $201 million budget supports essential County services, infrastructure renewal, and targeted community investments, while establishing a more sustainable financial foundation by eliminating reliance on reserves to fund day-to-day operations. Key investments include expanded EarlyON programming, a five-year extension of Middlesex Connect, support for Community Improvement Plans, modernization of County Library services, enhanced digital records management, and continued focus on community well-being. For more information, see the approved 2026 Middlesex County Budget and 2026 Middlesex County Budget Highlights.
Official Plan Amendment Supports Responsible Growth and Long Term Planning
County Council passed By-law #7390 to adopt Amendment No. 4 to the Official Plan for the County of Middlesex. The amendment updates the County’s long-range land use planning framework to reflect changes in provincial policy, align with the 2025–2030 County Strategic Plan, and incorporate updated population, housing, and employment forecasts to 2056. Amendment No. 4 strengthens coordination between County and local municipal official plans and advances sound land use planning across five key areas: agriculture, housing, economy, growth and development, and additional considerations. The update was informed by extensive technical analysis and public and interest holder input through the Middlesex 2056 engagement process, and positions the County to manage growth responsibly while protecting agricultural lands, supporting housing supply and economic development, and meeting provincial planning requirements. For more information, see the County Official Plan Amendment No. 4 report.
Council Approves New Program to Advance Strategic Employment Lands
County Council passed By-law #7388 to adopt the Middlesex County Employment Lands Readiness Program. The program builds on prior Council direction from the 2023 Industrial Assessment Review and related initiatives, including the revamping of the Middlesex County Loan Program. It establishes a County-level funding tool to support local municipalities in completing early-stage planning and technical studies needed to advance strategic employment lands toward greater readiness, and includes indicators to track progress over the short and long term. For more information, see the Middlesex County Employment Lands Readiness Program By-law.
Recommendations made by the Committee of the Whole at the January 13, 2026, meeting will be considered by County Council at its next regular meeting on February 10, 2026. The Legislative Services Department maintains the official record for all County government proceedings.
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