Latest news with #NatashaSalonen
CTV News
03-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Wilmot Township approves 20-year tax exemption for new affordable housing
Wilmot Township Council has approved a new policy that will exempt property taxes on newly built affordable housing units, in what officials are calling a significant step toward addressing housing affordability in the community. The policy offers a 20-year property tax exemption for affordable housing developments led by non-profit and cooperative housing providers. Mayor Natasha Salonen said the initiative is about enabling local solutions to a growing crisis. 'We know that real solutions require collaboration,' she said in a statement. 'This exemption creates the conditions for our non-profit partners—and potentially for-profit builders—to deliver housing that meets the needs of some residents, right here in New Hamburg, Baden, New Dundee, and beyond.' The new exemption policy is part of Wilmot's 2024–2027 Strategic Plan. It also builds on previous council actions, including the 2024 decision to waive regional development charges for Nith View Homes' new 160-bed long-term care facility. 'This is about taking meaningful, concrete steps to tackle the housing crisis in our community,' Salonen said. 'This policy is one way we can say: we see the need, and we're acting on it.' Council says it will continue exploring additional tools to address the housing crisis.
CBC
01-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Wilmot Township to hold special meeting this month on future of Prime Ministers' Path project
Social Sharing A special meeting has been planned for later this month to discuss the future of the Prime Ministers' Path project, as Wilmot Township councillors try to determine if the controversial project can move ahead. Mayor Natasha Salonen says a working group set up by council has finalized recommendations — based on diverse opinions in the community — on how the township could proceed. The project, which would have seen 22 bronze statues placed in the park beside Wilmot's township office, was put on hold in July 2021 after a council vote. The statues of Sir Robert Borden, Kim Campbell, William Lyon Mackenzie King and Lester Pearson were removed from the park that month and placed in storage. Another statue for the Unfortunate Four — Sir John Abbott, Sir Mackenzie Bowell, Sir John Thompson, and Sir Charles Tupper — was never installed and remains in storage. The statue of Sir John A. Macdonald was removed in July 2020 from its place beside Castle Kilbride and placed in storage, where it also remains. Salonen said the working group held a number of community meetings to get feedback on the project, then developed the report that will go before councillors on May 12. She said the group came up with a plan that, "if the statues were to come back, conditions under how they can come back in a way that addresses the concerns throughout our community," Salonen said on The Morning Edition. "That includes looking for a space where people in the community can choose if they want to engage with the statues or not as well as having an educational component." Financial considerations The mayor said one thing that came up in the recommendations is that there would need to be financial considerations. "It's been clear from what I've been hearing and feeling amongst the community that there needs to be a real conversation with council on who's funding it and what are the real costs to be able to have an educational component," she said. Wilmot Township faced a financial crunch in passing its 2025 budget. The initial report suggested a property tax increase of 50 per cent. There were a few reasons for the massive increase: A backlog of capital projects including a new fire station in New Hamburg, repairs to infrastructure like roads and the Wilmot Recreation Centre, and the fact that the township doesn't have much saved in reserves. In February, council passed a budget that increased property taxes by 18.22 per cent. Salonen said councillors will be formally presented with the recommendations at the May 12 meeting. The Prime Ministers' Path project is the only agenda item for the meeting, which will also provide an opportunity for residents to engage with council on the topic. She said Wilmont residents who are interested in delegating to council should register to do so. "At this point I just look forward to council getting to hear these recommendations and continue to hear from the community and then really I'm looking forward to setting forward what the next steps are with this process," the mayor said. 'We want this township to heal' The project has faced controversy from the start. The initial idea was that the privately funded project would see the creation of 22 bronze sculptures of past Canadian prime ministers to mark Canada's 150th birthday. Proponents had also hoped the statues could be used as a teaching device for the public. Ending the project was a recommendation from First Peoples Group, an Indigenous advisory group the township hired to hold public consultations on the project and prepare a report on the issue. But that all happened with the previous council. In October 2022 an entirely new council was elected to serve the residents of Wilmot Township. In January 2024 Coun. Kris Wilkinson brought forward a notice of motion to ask township staff to look at options for ways to "proceed with a permanent plan" for the project. "Our citizens desire resolutions and want their opportunity to have their voices heard," he said at the time. "We want this township to heal and come to a resolution that's agreeable." Following the May 12 meeting, the township will hold another community engagement meeting on May 28. Then on June 2, council's committee of the whole will meet to begin deliberations on the next steps forward. Here's a timeline of the project: In March 2014, Kitchener city council rejected the proposal in an 8-1 vote, pointing to a survey that indicated residents opposed the idea. In June 2015, project organizers thought they had found a home for the sculptures at Wilfrid Laurier University, but shortly after the project was announced, a petition circulated to stop it. Opponents to the statues said that celebrating the country's past prime ministers would be culturally insensitive given the university is built on land that traditionally belongs to Indigenous people and that not enough consultation was done. In February 2016, the university's board of governors nixed the idea, a move criticized by Conrad Black who said the university "folded like a $3 suitcase" in the face of opposition to the project. In April 2016, Wilmot council voted unanimously to allow the project to be placed in parkland beside Castle Kilbride and the township's administrative offices. The first statue, that of Macdonald, was installed in June 2016. In July 2020, the and placed in storage, where it remains. On July 5, 2021, Wilmot council voted unanimously to end the project and remove the four remaining statues. Those statues were removed by July 7, staff said. On Jan. 15, 2024, Wilmot council voted unanimously to ask staff to prepare a report that looks at a permanent plan for the project.
CBC
25-02-2025
- Business
- CBC
Wilmot council passes budget with 18.22% property tax increase
Social Sharing After receiving a draft budget proposing a property tax increase of more than 50 per cent in December, Wilmot Township councillors have passed a 2025 budget that will see people pay an additional 18.22 per cent this year. In December, township staff brought forward a draft budget report that proposed a property tax increase of 51 per cent. There were a few reasons for the massive increase: A backlog of capital projects including a new fire station in New Hamburg, repairs to infrastructure like roads and the Wilmot Recreation Centre, and the fact that the township doesn't have much saved in reserves. Mayor Natasha Salonen told CBC Kitchener-Waterloo's The Morning Edition host Craig Norris at the time that the number was shocking. Councillors passed the budget on Monday during a special council meeting. The total amount of the township's budget was $29,278,441. The township says the average property owner would pay an additional $208 a year in taxes. Some of the highlights township staff noted in this year's budget: Township will move forward with the design phase for a new fire station (funded in 2024) while delaying further investment until designs are finalized. There is no cost-of-living increase for council members in 2025. Approval to hire one new policy planner to manage increased planning responsibilities from the province related to legislative changes that came into effect on Jan. 1, 2025. Paying for a new roof for the St. Agatha Community Centre. Creating a long-term financial plan to fund critical capital projects, including roads, bridges, sewers, and facility and trail maintenance. As well, council passed a policy direction to staff to make sure a 10-year capital plan is included at the start of every draft budget process. Councillors wanted to lower numbers Two councilllors -— Harvir Sidhu and Kris Wilkinson — voted against passing the budget. "I personally would like to see this number come in a lot lower," Wilkinson said of the final budget number. Coun. Lillianne Dunstall said the township has seen previous councils cut funding and not save, "putting us in the situation that we're in now, so I think this is a good budget." Coun. Stewart Cressman said he agreed he wanted to see a lower budget number, but "I think the reality of the situation dictates that we have to do what is best for the long-term interest of this township." "We can't leave a legacy of empty bank accounts, empty reserves and a situation where we're looking over our shoulders every year determining where we're going to find the funds to keep this township solvent," Cressman said. "I think we have to look at this as being very difficult medicine, but it's medicine that is needed." Salonen said when she ran in the 2022 municipal election, she ran on a platform of fiscal responsibility. "At the time, did I maybe think that we had better accounts? Yes," she said. "Although it is a tough decision, I will be supporting this budget. I think that council, along with staff, have done a very good job going from what the staff draft budget of 50 per cent was to bring it to something that I think is more palatable and attainable for our residents," she added. She added residents in the township were "really engaged" over the past three months and offered valuable insight into the budget process, "so thank you to everyone in the community as well."
CBC
24-02-2025
- Business
- CBC
Wilmot Township council set to meet Monday to pass 2025 budget
Wilmot Township councillors will meet Monday night in the hopes of passing the 2025 budget. In December, township staff brought forward a draft budget report that proposed a property tax increase of 51 per cent. A backlog of capital projects including a new fire station in New Hamburg and repairs to infrastructure like roads and the Wilmot Recreation Centre are largely to blame. As well, the township doesn't have much saved in reserves. Mayor Natasha Salonen told CBC Kitchener-Waterloo's The Morning Edition host Craig Norris at the time that the number was shocking. "This council, over the last two budgets, has been asking a lot more questions and really uncovering more financial, historical problems and this has kind of been the culmination of all that digging that council has done," Salonen said. Since December, the township says staff and council has brought the property tax increase down to just over 19 per cent. During a meeting on Jan. 27, councillors asked for more information from staff — including whether it's possible to phase-in the capital budget over the next four years — and it's hoped they will be able to lower the final number at Monday's meeting. "Council is seeking further reductions to operating costs and has asked staff to reduce day-to-day departmental budgets by five percent," the township said in a media release following the Jan. 27 meeting.
CBC
27-01-2025
- Business
- CBC
Wilmot councillors mull public input as they prepare to meet Monday to finalize 2025 budget
Wilmot councillors will meet Monday in the hopes of passing the 2025 budget. It comes after council has heard from people in the township who were upset with the draft budget released in December that proposed a 50 per cent property tax increase. Township staff said the proposed budget would add $43 per month ($514 per year) to the township's portion of the average homeowner's tax bill. At a special council meeting on Jan. 7, councillors heard from several people who called the increase unacceptable. "Many Wilmot residents are already struggling. There are neighbours in our community that are choosing between paying their bills or feeding themselves," resident and father of three Rory Farnan said. "Residents with lower wages and fixed incomes are finding it increasingly difficult to pay their rent or remain in their home due to rising costs. It is your duty to ensure that any financial decisions made do not intensify these hardships." At a meeting on Jan. 16, councillors made cuts to the budget, including removing several new staff positions. Township staff were also asked to prepare a report about other possible cuts that could be made to departmental operating budgets. Mayor Natasha Salonen said in a release that council will deliberate on the budget and they are striving "to achieve a budget that respects the current and future needs of our community." Monday night's special council meeting to approve the budget gets underway at 5 p.m. and people can attend in person or watch it on the township's YouTube page. A regular council meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
