Heather Wright/The Independent

Lambton County property owners will pay more for the services.

Wednesday, Lambton county politicians approved a $321,130,439 operating and capital budget.

Chief Administrative Officer, Stéphane Thiffeault, said the total cost of operating Lambton County at $321 million, is slightly lower than last year’s. But, he says there will still be a tax increase. Lambton spent more money on capital projects in 2025 than it will in 2026 and some of that 2025 spending was financed through reserve cash which didn’t affect yearly tax rates.

Thiffeault says operating costs for Lambton rose $9 million, leading to the 2026 tax increase.

Originally, county staff has produced a budget with a 3.48 per cent tax increase which would have added about $18.23 for every $100,000 of assessment on a home. But during the budget deliberations – which lasted about 80 minutes – councillors approved a request from the City of Sarnia to add two more planners to help with development. That pushed up the tax increase to 3.72 per cent or $19.49 for every $100,000 of assessed value of a home.

For the average homeowner in Lambton Shores, whose home is assessed at about $305,000 that means an additional $58.47 to their tax bill. In Petrolia, where the average residential assessment is about $190,000, that will increase the tax bill around $35.

More to come…