Mayor N. Salonen provided an introduction to the 2025 Draft Operating and Capital Budget presentation.
Acting CAO / Director of Corporate Services / CFO, G. Clark introduced the draft 2025 Budget.
Acting CAO / Director of Corporate Services / CFO, G. Clark presented the overview of the Mayor and Council, Office of the CAO, Corporate Services departmental budget.
Fire Chief, R. Leeson presented the overview of the Fire Services budget.
Director of Community Services, C. Catania presented the overview of the Community Services budget.
Director of Development Services, H. O'Krafka presented the overview of the Development Services budget.
Director of Infrastructure Services, J. Molenhuis presented the overview of the Infrastructure Services budget.
Acting CAO / Director of Corporate Services / CFO, G. Clark presented the Corporate Accounts and Capital Budget.
Council asked and received a response to the following:
- Retail value of the existing New Hamburg Fire Station;
- Revenue and cost information of the Community Centers;
- Clarification on the one-time correction referenced on page 8 of the 2025 draft Municipal Budget;
- Clarification on the 10-year forecast impact on the tax levy moving forward;
- If there is any revenue being transferred in respects to planning authority being downloaded;
- Clarification on debt, and the portion budgeted in 2024;
- The relationship between the Regional pump station and the work proposed for the Baden Trunk Sanitary Sewer;
- The included amount for the proposed New Hamburg Fire Station;
- The included amount within the Community Services department for New Dundee Library – Roof Replacement and St. Agatha Community Centre;
- Clarification on the CANOE purchasing group use for Infrastructure Services purchasing;
- Clarification on the ability to issue standard RFP processes;
- Clarification on Wastewater Reserves handling costs of aging infrastructure;
- Information on the deadline for updating the Township of Wilmot's Official Plan;
- Potential options for cutting the Operating budgets;
- Expenditures as presented on the Financial Statements;
- Clarification on the figures presented on the Wilmot tax comparison slide, including total tax as a percentage of household income;
- Clarification on the revenue shortfalls;
- Construction methods, practices and useful life of infrastructure assets; and,
- Information on the 2025 Community Grant Program.
Council provided direction to staff to bring back more information on:
- Total debt load and debt repayment being carried;
- Cost comparisons for fire service equipment;
- Procurement, and use of the CANOE purchasing group;
- A list of programs, costs, access and utilization of these services;
- Municipal Comparator tool provided in the 2024 Budget process;
- Cost of Living Adjustments in comparable municipalities;
- A list of the facilities, their value, operating costs, utilization and revenue; and,
- Spreadsheet of capital items for repair and maintenance versus growth.