Deliberations continue in Wilmot's 2025 municipal budget approval
Wilmot residents were facing a 50 per cent increase in property taxes in first draft of budget
Wilmot Township council will meet again next month in the hopes of finalizing the 2025 municipal budget.
On Tuesday, the township's council met for its fourth round of deliberations. The original draft budget called for a proposed property tax increase of 51 per cent.
The township says staff and council has brought that down to just over 19 per cent.
A media release says several key decisions were made at the meeting aimed at lowering the proposed property tax increase.
"Among these was direction to phase the capital budget increase over the next four years, at nine per cent annually until 2028," reads the release.
The December 2024 report from staff said the township needed to increase property taxes by 50 per cent. due to a backlog of capital projects and repairs to infrastructure. As well, the township doesn't have much saved in reserves.
The discussed tax reduction from Tuesday's meeting included the proposed 10 per cent operating budget increase, which was lowered from its original 14 per cent at the previous meeting.
"Council is seeking further reductions to operating costs and has asked staff to reduce day-to-day departmental budgets by 5 percent," the township said.
Conversations surrounding options for reducing departmental costs will be heldon Feb. 24 during Wilmot council's next budget meeting.
A revised 2025 budget based on a phased four-year capital increase approach will also be discussed during the upcoming meeting.
"Council is working hard to bring the proposed draft budget down while ensuring we continue to make strategic investments in our infrastructure and multi-year planning," said Wilmot Mayor Natasha Salonen in the release.
"These decisions are about more than just today — they're about setting the foundation for long-term financial health and building a stronger future for Wilmot."
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