Township, mayor and residents react to Wilmot’s proposed 50.87% tax hike [Video]

Residents of Wilmot Township could face a hefty tax hike this year.

The proposed 2025 budget includes a 50.87 per cent residential tax rate increase, which would mean the average homeowner would pay an additional $514 on the township portion of their tax bill.

“I’m not impressed with it. I don’t believe we need it,” said one resident, who has lived in Wilmot Township for 38 years.

The mayor explained that council will work to lower the increase, but it could be a challenges due to years of lower tax hikes and the township’s failure to set aside enough money for capital projects.

“We’ve had historically low tax increases here in Wilmot the last 15 years,” noted Greg Clark, Wilmot’s director of corporate services, chief financial officer and acting CAO.

He said the biggest reason for the proposed hike is for funding of capital projects.

“We own a lot of …