Wilmot council compensation dips slightly in 2025

By Galen Simmons

Wilmot council members received slightly less in total pay and benefits in 2025 compared to the previous year, according to the township’s annual remuneration report.

Presented by director of financial services and treasurer Harjot Grewal at the April 27 council meeting, the report shows total compensation for council members was $181,030.15 in 2025, down from $185,023.25 in 2024 – a decrease of about 2.16 per cent.

“This report provides the annual disclosure of remuneration and expenses for council and committee members as required under the Municipal Act,” Grewal said. “For 2025, we made a couple of updates to improve clarity and consistency, including capturing remuneration receiving by virtue of holding office such as Enova-related remuneration, and removing administrative cellphone costs from the statement.

“These changes have also been applied to 2024 for comparability.”

Mayor Natasha Salonen received the highest total compensation at $58,128.21, a modest increase of 0.56 per cent from the previous year. Councillors’ compensation ranged from $23,392 to $26,116.73, with most seeing small decreases compared to 2024.

Coun. Steven Martin earned $26,116.73, up slightly from 2024, while Coun. Lillianne Dunstall saw her compensation drop to $25,111.57 from $26,220.28 the year prior. Coun. Harvir Sidhu experienced the largest decrease, with total compensation falling more than 10 per cent to $23,392.

Base pay for councillors remained largely consistent, with differences driven by variations in benefits and other payments, according to the report.

In addition to council pay, the township reported $2,700 in honoraria for members of the committee of adjustment, an increase from $2,200 in 2024. The dangerous dog committee did not meet in 2025 and therefore incurred no costs.

The report also includes, for the first time, remuneration and expenses paid through Enova that are attributable to council members. Mayor Salonen received a total of $10,263.32 for her roles with Enova Energy Corp. and Enova Power Corp., down from $11,375.02 in 2024.

“I’m just wondering if it could be noted on the public part on the website that (pay related to Enova) does not cost taxpayers because that’s coming directly from Enova and their profits,” Salonen said. “I just don’t want it to look like it’s hitting our books when it’s not actually.”

Other expenses claimed by council members dropped significantly to $250 in 2025, compared to $614.52 the previous year. Meanwhile, council members collectively spent $12,318.43 on conferences and professional development, with the mayor accounting for more than $5,200 of that total – the combined cost for her attendance at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference in Toronto and the Association of Municipalities Ontario (AMO) conference in Ottawa.

The annual report is required under the Municipal Act and provides a detailed breakdown of salaries, benefits and reimbursed expenses paid to members of council and local committees.

Council received the report for information, with staff recommending it be published on the township’s website as part of its commitment to transparency and accountability.