Essex County Council has passed its 2018 budget.
The total amount is $160-million.
The Chief Administrative Officer says the increased tax rate of 1.5 per cent was lower than the proposed two per cent.
According to Rob Maisonville -- that equates to about an extra $15 on a tax bill for a home valued at $200,000.
One of the major expenses included in the budget is a $2-million increase in emergency medical services over last year.
Twenty-three full time staff will be hired to help handle the increased call volume.
