Looking back: Municipality of Tweed

It would be strange for a politician to say a significant tax increase was a significant accomplishment but that’s what the mayor of Tweed told Quinte News as we continue to look back at 2025.

Don Degenova says he’s thankful most residents understood why a 15 per cent property tax increase was necessary.

“It’s something we’ve had to do to get ourselves back into a financial position that we need to be in, especially when compared to our neighbours where the tax per household is considerably, I mean considerably, higher than us.”

Degenova explains that a one per cent tax increase in Tweed represents just $54,000, a drop in the bucket when you consider the $1.2 million cost of a new fire truck.

Meanwhile Degenova tells Quinte News that Tweed has applied for provincial government infrastructure funding in each of the past three years and has been turned down each time.

He recently met with MPP for Hastings-Lennox and Addington riding Ric Bresee.

” … and he’s asked me to provide him, which I have, with which applications were turned down and what are our critical infrastructure issues and he wants to take that forward on our behalf so I have some hope there that we might be seeing something coming in 2026.”

Degenova says hiring four new administration staff this year, a CAO, a treasurer, a public works manager and a community development coordinator bodes well for the future of the municipality.

Meanwhile there’s been a strategy change when it comes to replacing Tweed’s many bridges.

The mayor says that council ordered three prefab bridges this year, one of which should be installed in Queensborough in the near future.

“We’re looking at scaling back on the glorious designs that we used to put in place for these bridges that would cost us like $2 million.
We’re now looking at prefab bridges which will save us 30 to 40 per cent of a bridge’s cost.”

It’s hoped the other two bridges will be installed next year.

Council managed to buy needed equipment in 2025, including a tandem truck, a new grader and two plows for existing vehicles, along with finishing important upgrades to the arena’s compressor and refrigeration systems.

Degenova said 2025 was another year that highlighted an “amazing community spirit” in Tweed, with several successful events like Taste of Tweed,
Canada Day, Dodge Ram Rodeo, Harvest Festival, Ride for Dad, and the various productions held at the Marble Arts Centre by the Tweed and Company Theatre group.