Wilmot council passes budget with 18.22% property tax increase

After receiving a draft budget proposing a property tax increase of more than 50 per cent in December, Wilmot Township councillors have passed a 2025 budget that will see people pay an additional 18.22 per cent this year.

In December, township staff brought forward a draft budget report that proposed a property tax increase of 51 per cent. 

There were a few reasons for the massive increase: A backlog of capital projects including a new fire station in New Hamburg, repairs to infrastructure like roads and the Wilmot Recreation Centre, and the fact that the township doesn't have much saved in reserves. 

Mayor Natasha Salonen told CBC Kitchener-Waterloo's The Morning Edition host Craig Norris at the time that the number was shocking.

Councillors passed the budget on Monday during a special council meeting. The total amount of the township's budget was $29,278,441.

The township says the average property owner would pay an additional $208 a year in taxes.

Some of the highlights township staff noted in this year's budget:

• Township will move forward with the design phase for a new fire station (funded in 2024) while delaying further investment until designs are finalized.
• There is no cost-of-living increase for council members in 2025.
• Approval to hire one new policy planner to manage increased planning responsibilities from the province related to legislative changes that came into effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
• Paying for a new roof for the St. Agatha Community Centre.
• Creating a long-term financial plan to fund critical capital projects, including roads, bridges, sewers, and facility and trail maintenance.

As well, council passed a policy direction to staff to make sure a 10-year capital plan is included at the start of every draft budget process.

Councillors wanted to lower numbers

Two councilllors -— Harvir Sidhu and Kris Wilkinson — voted against passing the budget.

"I personally would like to see this number come in a lot lower," Wilkinson said of the final budget number.

Coun. Lillianne Dunstall said the township has seen previous councils cut funding and not save, "putting us in the situation that we're in now, so I think this is a good budget."

Coun. Stewart Cressman said he agreed he wanted to see a lower budget number, but "I think the reality of the situation dictates that we have to do what is best for the long-term interest of this township."

"We can't leave a legacy of empty bank accounts, empty reserves and a situation where we're looking over our shoulders every year determining where we're going to find the funds to keep this township solvent," Cressman said.

"I think we have to look at this as being very difficult medicine, but it's medicine that is needed."

Salonen said when she ran in the 2022 municipal election, she ran on a platform of fiscal responsibility.

"At the time, did I maybe think that we had better accounts? Yes," she said.

"Although it is a tough decision, I will be supporting this budget. I think that council, along with staff, have done a very good job going from what the staff draft budget of 50 per cent was to bring it to something that I think is more palatable and attainable for our residents," she added.

She added residents in the township were "really engaged" over the past three months and offered valuable insight into the budget process, "so thank you to everyone in the community as well."