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PAGE5, 2026 Thursday, March PAGE The Wilmot-Tavistock Gazette FIREBIRDS CAPTAIN SAYS GOODBYE OXFORD COUNTY POTHOLE REPORTING
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The Wilmot-Tavistock Gazette Serving New Hamburg, Tavistock, Baden, Wellesley, New Dundee, St. Agatha, Shakespeare, Petersburg, Hickson, Punkeydoodle’s Corner and area
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THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2026
EZT previews 2026 budget Draft budget includes proposed 3% tax increase LEE GRIFFI Gazette Reporter
(GALEN SIMMONS PHOTO)
Maple Tap Farm’s Andrew Sallans (left) shows Marc McInerney (right), chair of the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival, how to tap a maple tree during the Waterloo Wellington Maple Producers’ First Tapping ceremony at the New Dundee farm Feb. 27. Full story on page 4.
Wilmot walkers exceed $40,000 fundraising goal at ninth annual Coldest Night of the Year walk GALEN SIMMONS
Regional Editor
More than 100 walkers braved the late-winter chill in New Hamburg Feb. 28 for the ninth annual Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser in support of the Wilmot and Wellesley Resource Centre (WWRC), raising $44,000 and counting to help local residents experiencing
hunger, homelessness and poverty. By the time participants stepped out onto the walk routes that evening, the fundraiser had already surpassed its $40,000 goal. As of press time March 4, the event had raised $44,751 – 111 per cent of its fundraising target – with donations continuing to be accepted until March 31. “This is our ninth year of partnering
with Coldest Night of the Year,” WWRC executive director Trisha Robinson told those gathered before the walk. “At our first Coldest Night, we had nine teams, 63 walkers and we raised $9,000. And today, nine years later, we have 117 walkers, 24 teams and we are over our goal.” Those who participated in the fundraiser walk were supported by 29 volunteers
East Zorra-Tavistock (EZT) ratepayers could see a 3.17 per-cent increase on their property tax bill this year. EZT CAO Karen DePrest provided an overview of this year’s budget at council’s March 4 regular meeting. Mayor Phil Schaefer and Coun. Steven Van Wyk were not in attendance. “I think the budget summary is an all-good news story,” said DePrest. “This is the lowest tax-rate increase we have brought in over the last four years. Although the levy is going up 6.38 per cent … the important part for ratepayers in East Zorra-Tavistock is actually the tax-rate increase of 3.17 per cent.” For an average home assessed by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) in 2016 at $350,000, the hike translates to a $50 to $60 increase, according to DePrest. A special meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 10, at 9 a.m. for members of council to take a deeper dive into the budget. “The (full) document will be released to the public on Friday for the special council meeting. Council will receive a PDF copy as well to go through each line by line in preparation for our meeting on Tuesday,” she added. If the 2026 draft budget is approved without changes, the levy would rise by 6.38 per cent, or $536,114. The township saw $269,611 or
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