By Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Wilmot Township council has passed an 18.22 per-cent tax increase for 2025.
The final figure is vastly different from the original 50.87 per cent proposed by township staff but it is still a hard pill to swallow for some councillors and members of the public. The common theme among councillors was financial ignorance of the past.
“I could not support an increase of this magnitude as it places a significant financial strain on residents at a time when affordability is already a major concern for people in our community and folks across Canada,” said Coun. Kris Wilkinson who, along with Coun. Harvir Sidhu, were the only members of council to vote against the budget.
“Throughout the budget process, I pushed for a more measured approach, one that would balance the township’s needs with the realities facing families, seniors and small businesses. While I recognize the financial pressures on the municipality, I believe more could have been done to find efficiencies and lessen the impact on taxpayers.”
Lillianne Dunstall was one of the members of council who voted in favour of the document. She said the increase was a difficult but necessary step.
“Years of postponing critical investments and kicking projects down the road have brought us to a dead end. We ran out of road leaving no choice but to act to ensure the long-term sustainability of our township. The original 36 per-cent capital requirement was phased over four years at nine per cent annually, making it more manageable.”
The total 2025 budget for Wilmot Township is $29,278,441 and, for the average property, it represents an annual increase of $208 or $17.33 per month.
A news release from the township said the budget begins to address years of financial decisions that have resulted in low reserves, underfunded operational costs and service gaps.
Mayor Natasha Salonen acknowledged the process was particularly difficult given the need to address the township’s fiscal reality while acknowledging the affordability issues many residents and all Canadians are facing. Salonen said she understands some residents will find the end result a tough pill to swallow.
“Affordability is a concern for many and I do not take these decisions lightly. However, as a mayor who ran on and remains committed to fiscal responsibility, I could not ignore the reality of Wilmot’s chronic underinvestment in essential infrastructure and services. Through community engagement during the budget, I feel that council sought to ensure that our approach reflected public input while addressing the long-term health of our township.”
She added difficult choices had to be made but the budget sets Wilmot on a more sustainable path.
“One that strengthens our financial foundation, prioritizes key investments and positions us for responsible growth in the years ahead. This is just the beginning of the work needed to rebuild, and I remain committed to working with residents to navigate these challenges together.”
Sidhu said he was disappointed in the final result but added the budget shines a light on the township’s poor financial health.
“Although there was not a 50-plus increase which I believe should never have even been an option, the 18 per cent is a very significant hit to our tax base. I was not confident in the budget and options that were presented to me. I believe more work should have been done to respect the taxpayers hard-earned money.”
He added he was elected on the promise to be fiscally prudent, something he will continue to do.
“Our township needs to reflect on how we conduct business with the local taxpayers being priority number one.”
Dunstall, in a move to ensure strong guardrails moving forward, introduced a motion to explore a lean-government program based on Six Sigma principles, already successfully implemented in Toronto, Mississauga, Peterborough and Hamilton.
“This initiative focuses on efficiency, teamwork, accountability and cost savings. It also reduces redundancy by identifying overlapping roles and outdated processes while fostering employee engagement through a culture of innovation and adaptability.”
She added a key benefit is improved service delivery which streamlines procedures, reduces wait times and enhances responsiveness to constituents. The motion was unanimously supported.
Coun. Steven Martin said council and staff worked well over the past few months to finalize the budget but admitted it wasn’t easy.
“It has not been an easy process since we have been dealing with a difficult financial situation. However, the final number of an 18.22 per-cent increase is much better than the starting point of 51 per cent. We are working on a longer-term plan to build up reserves, which is good.”
Coun. Stewart Cressman compared the financial state of Wilmot to other municipalities in the province since it has the lowest tax-based reserves of any lower-tier municipality in Ontario. He explained small tax hikes aren’t coming any time soon.
“Like this year, it is proposed the capital budget increase each of the next three years at a rate of nine per cent in addition to the annual operating budget, so tax relief for township residents is not on the near horizon.”
One theme consistent among councillors regardless of which way they voted on the budget was the need to provide residents with the information they need to follow what’s happening at the township level.
“I will continue advocating for greater financial responsibility, transparency and long-term planning to ensure that we do not find ourselves in this position again. Wilmot residents deserve a budget that is both sustainable and fair, and I remain committed to working toward that goal.”
Residents can learn more about the 2025 budget by visiting the township’s website at www.wilmot.ca/budget.
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