Special Council Meeting Agenda
2025 Budget Approval- Council Deliberations

Thursday, January 16, 2025

2:00 P.m. - 10:00 P.m.

Council Chambers - Hybrid

60 Snyder's Road West

Baden, Ontario

N3A 1A1

This meeting will be held in-person and electronically in accordance with Section 238 (3.3) of the Municipal Act, 2001. Please subscribe to the Township of Wilmot You Tube Channel to watch the live stream or view after the meeting.

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

• RECOMMENDATION

  THAT the Special Council Meeting on January 16, 2025 be called to order at 2:00 p.m.

2.

TERRITORIAL LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Councillor K. Wilkinson

3.

ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA

4.

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

• RECOMMENDATION

  THAT the Agenda as presented for January 16, 2025 be adopted.

5.

DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST UNDER THE MUNICIPAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACT

Members of Council and members of the Township’s local boards are required to file a written statement when they have a conflict of interest. If a conflict is declared, please review the Policies and Rules for Council  and complete the Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest Form.

6.

CORRESPONDENCE

7.

REPORTS

7.1

Introduction of the Main Budget Motion

• RECOMMENDATION

  THAT the 2025 operating budget be approved at a gross expenditure budget of $33,264,150 with a 2025 property tax and payment-in-lieu of taxes levy requirement of $18,452,560 or 50.87 per cent over 2024:

  1. 1. 2025 fees, rates and charges, and inclusive of:
     2. A water and wastewater basic service charge for each of 2025 equivalent to 2024 rates.
     3. A water volume charge of $2.42 per cubic meter, or 4.90 per cent increase over 2024 (excluding Foxboro Green).
     4. A wastewater volume charge of $3.26 per cubic meter, ($2.40 for Morningside) or 5.90 per cent increase over 2024 (excluding Foxboro Green).

7.1.1

Base Budget

7.1.2

One Time Adjustments

7.1.3

Operating Gap Requests

7.1.4

Capital Funding

7.2

Capital Budget

• RECOMMENDATION

  THAT the 2025 Capital Budget in the gross expenditure amount of $26,299,201, inclusive of the following:

  1. 1. Funding transfers from capital reserve funds and other sources including partnerships and grants in 2025.

8.

COUNCILLOR MOTIONS - WHERE NOTICE HAS BEEN PROVIDED

8.1

Councillor L. Dunstall Notice of Motion Regarding Office of the CAO, Mayor and Council Staffing Resources

• RECOMMENDATION

  WHEREAS Report CAO-2024-01 Office of the CAO, Mayor and Council Staffing Resources was received for information at the February 26, 2024; and,

  WHEREAS Council supported Option #2 as outlined in Report CAO 2024-01 to support the implementation of a dedicated staff position by approving a Constituency Liaison position reporting directly to the Mayor and Council and eliminating the vacant Social Media, Digital and Design Specialist role and contracting out technical communication needs; and,

  WHEREAS the Constituency Liaison and Social Media, Digital and Design Specialist positions were to be reconsidered in the 2025 Budget process; and,

  WHEREAS the Township of Wilmot is currently facing significant financial challenges; and,

  AND WHEREAS it is the responsibility of Council to demonstrate fiscal accountability and shared sacrifice during times of crisis.

  NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council eliminates the full-time equivalent position within the Office of the Mayor and Council, which was approved as a one-year temporary position in the 2024, resulting in a reduction in the operating budget for the Mayor and Council of $118,340.00 which is a 0.96% tax rate impact; and,

  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT Council directs staff to continue contracting out technical communications needs; and,

  BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED THAT the current staff complement within the Office of the CAO be continued with the Social Media, Digital and Design Specialist position remaining vacant and being re-examined in the 2026 Budget process.

8.2

Mayor N. Salonen Notice of Motion Regarding Establishment of Department-Specific Capital Reserve Accounts

• RECOMMENDATION

  WHEREAS, the Township is committed to rebuilding trust with Wilmot residents;  

  WHEREAS, the Township of Wilmot is implementing practices to increase fiscal transparency and set the corporation up for better fiscal health;  

  WHEREAS, dedicated reserves improve planning for long-term capital needs and reduce financial risk;  

  WHEREAS, separating funds by department aligns with best practices for financial planning and ensures resources are used for their intended purposes;  

  WHEREAS, clearly defined reserves will provide a clearer understanding of how funds are allocated and spent within each department;  

  NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council directs staff to divide the Infrastructure Renewal Reserve into dedicated reserves for the following items:  

  1.  Fire Services Capital Reserve  
  2.  Facilities and Parks Capital Reserve  
  3.  Transportation and Storm Water Capital Reserve  

  AND FINALLY THAT these reserves can only be utilized by the intended department, based off of Council budget approvals. Council requests that staff draft a policy where in the event of fund transfers from one reserve to another or spending overages above $20,000 require Council approval.  

8.3

Mayor N. Salonen Regarding a 10-year Capital Budget

• RECOMMENDATION

  WHEREAS, best practice has a 10-year capital plan tied to informing the annual budget;  

  WHEREAS, the public very clearly wants to see Council prioritizing the Township of Wilmot’s capital forecast;

  AND WHEREAS, for Council to make informed decisions and effectively prioritize resource allocation;  

  NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT staff present a 10-year capital plan for each department with the affiliated year over year financial asks for each project, for Council to consider and thus inform this year’s capital funding envelope and prior to 2025 budget approval.  

  AND FINALLY THAT the presentation of a 10-year capital plan be provided as a part of every draft budget moving forward.   
   

9.

2025 BUDGET MOTION APPROVAL

10.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

11.

CONFIRMATORY BY-LAW

• RECOMMENDATION

  THAT the Confirmatory By-Law as attached to this Agenda be read a first, second and third time, and finally passed in Open Council. 

12.

ADJOURNMENT

• RECOMMENDATION

  THAT we do now adjourn to meet again at the call of the Mayor.