Wilmot Township gets its first look at 2026 financial budget

Council chambers in Wilmot Township. (Source: Township of Wilmot/X)

Residents in the Township of Wilmot won’t be stuck with a 50 per cent tax increase in 2026.

Mayor Natasha Salonen has tabled a budget for the new year, which was put together by accounting firm KPMG.

It proposes a 9.7 per cent increase on property tax, a 4.9 per cent increase on water rates, and a 5 per cent increase on wastewater rates.

The township said that equates to $288, or $24 a month, for the average homeowner.

The budget also includes $12 million for 44 capital projects in 2026, plus a $1.5 million transfer to the township’s reserves.

“The funding fulfills council’s 2025 commitment to increase capital investments, including reserve contributions, by 9 per cent per year for three years,” a media release said.

KPMG was brought on last fall to help develop a financial plan, as well as a long-term fiscal strategy for Wilmot, following township staff’s recommendation to increase property tax 50 per cent in 2026. Council whittled that down to 18 per cent, but still felt hiring an outside organization would be beneficial.

“We’ve had a different treasurer every single budget, different budget processes every single time,” Salonen told CTV News on Oct. 27. “The community and councils had a lot of questions about where the numbers were coming from.”

Since the township also had no treasurer or deputy-treasurer, hiring KPMG was not only a necessity, but the cost did not have to be passed on to residents.

The township said the accounting firm created an “evidence-based budget” representing a “sustainable and responsible” path forward.

“This budget reflects a more rigorous and accountable process than in years past, informed by updated financial assumptions and external expertise,” Salonen said in the release. “It prioritizes affordability while beginning the work needed to restore long-term fiscal sustainability. This is a responsible plan for today and the future.”

The township has posted the proposed budget online and residents are encouraged to share feedback at [e-mail].

Councillors will discuss Wilmot’s financial plan at a meeting on Jan. 29. The township said council could propose amendments at that time, or accept the budget as presented.