Wilmot hires accounting firm to build its 2026 budget

Wilmot Township has hired an accounting firm to help them plan for 2026. As CTV’s Jeff Pickel reports, it comes after staff recommended a 50 per cent budget inc

Wilmot is seeking guidance as it begins to build its 2026 budget.

The township said it has hired accounting firm KPMG to take the lead in developing next year’s financial plan, as well as a long-term fiscal strategy for Wilmot.

Last year, residents were left stunned when township staff recommended a 50 per cent property tax increase in 2026.

Council was able to get that down to 18 per cent, but Mayor Natasha Salonen said it was clear something needed to change.

“We’ve had a different treasurer every single budget, different budget processes every single time,” she said. “The community and councils had a lot of questions about where the numbers were coming from.”

The mayor explained that hiring KPMG would allow the township to develop are more consistent fiscal policy.

“This really is also to help the community and council feel comfortable and confident in the numbers that we have and, in our plan, a process going forward.”

The move was also a necessity as the township currently has no Treasurer or Deputy-Treasurer. Those two vacancies have freed up funds to hire KPMG, so the cost will not be passed onto taxpayers.

The former CAO for the City of Kitchener, Jeff Willmer, also signed on this summer to be Wilmot’s Chief Administrative Officer.

Wilmer said bringing on KPMG was about setting up the township for a more consistent and reliable future.

“Certainly, the intent is this would be a one-time thing and then, once we’re fully staffed, we can work on the foundation that KPMG will help us to build,” he explained. “No question that the work that’s being done will help all of us here at township administration but certainly help the treasurer by building that strong foundation.”

Salonen used her strong mayor powers to hire KPMG, allowing her to act unilaterally without waiting for council’s vote. She said a decision couldn’t wait as the deadline was quickly approaching for the 2026 budget.

“If it went through council, we’d have to go through a regular procurement process. This allowed us to expedite that process.”

Salonen said KPMG already started working on the 2026 budget and would have a draft by the end of the year.

The long-term financial plan should be finalized in early 2026.