Budget deliberations begin later this afternoon in the county.
It's the first time Essex county council will go over the draft document.
The proposed budget calls for a 1.76 percent increase.
Deputy Warden Ken Antaya says he's pleased with the document.
"When you start looking at a 1.76 percent increase and that's your starting point, that's a pretty good starting point. I mean it's not like the old days when you use to see seven or eight percent and then you would have to start cutting it down," says Antaya.
Antaya feels council will make some changes to the draft budget.
He believes administration will come back with an updated document at the next county council meeting for final approval.
Deliberations begin at 4pm.