Questions · 21 so far
We read Tweed's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 73 similar Ontario towns. These are the things that stood out.
These are unusual enough that residents deserve a clear answer from council.
$3.5Min savings at the end of 2024
Towns keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Tweed had $3.5M saved at the end of 2024, down from $5.7M in 2019. That is 36% of one year's spending. Only 6 of 73 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 4 sources
There may well be a good reason. It is still worth asking what it is.
$182,736spent in 2025, against a revised budget of $40,000
For 2025, the town budgeted $40,000 for lawyers and other professionals in its main office. By April 15, 2026, it had spent $182,736. For 2026, it has budgeted $242,900, six times the 2025 plan, plus $40,000 for legal and professional fees in a new storm water budget. It is the third year running far over budget: $66,323 against $22,500 in 2023, and $134,569 against $22,500 in 2024. The town’s July 2026 report says most of the 2026 money pays for people on contract: a treasurer and a facility manager. It has not said what the 2025 money paid for.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
+46%office salaries, 2025 budget to 2026 budget
The 2026 budget sets office salaries at $629,434, up from $431,947 in the 2025 budget. The books in April 2026 showed $536,059 spent on salaries in 2025 (the draft year-end says $521,462), so the new budget is also 17% above what was really spent. In 2025, salaries ran over budget, but a $150,000 line for a pay review was mostly unspent, so the two together came in slightly under budget.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
0entries in the online registry, checked 2026-09-30
When a council member has a personal stake in a decision, they must declare it and stay out of the discussion and vote. Since 2019, Ontario law says towns must keep a registry of these declarations that the public can inspect. It does not have to be online. The registry on Tweed's meeting portal has no entries, and we could not find one anywhere else online, but the town's own minutes record 41 declarations since 2020, 18 of them by the current council and committee.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 8 sources
The minutes show 8 times since 2020 when a council member stayed out of a decision because a batch of town payments, a staff report or a tender involved a business owned by their family. Most involve one welding business owned by a current councillor's son, which came up at least 6 times between 2020 and 2022 in town payments, staff reports and a tender. Each time, the member declared it and stayed out of the discussion and the vote, which is what the law asks. What residents cannot see is how much these businesses were paid in total, or how they were chosen.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 8 sources
117 of 147council meetings we read had a closed session
Ontario lets councils meet privately for a few reasons, like staff matters, lawsuits or buying land. Tweed's council went behind closed doors at 117 of its 147 council meetings from June 10, 2020 to September 1, 2026. Afterwards, 114 times, it voted in public that "staff follow Council direction from the Closed Meeting", without saying what that direction was.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 8 sources
$60,456spent on the Hannah Street agreement in 2023 and 2024
In 2023 Tweed agreed to take over Hannah Street, a road owned by a private landowner, for its road network. Instead of paying for the land, the town agreed to pay for environmental studies needed to rezone the owner’s other land next door from industrial to housing, pay the owner’s application fees for up to 4 new lots, and waive its own rezoning fee. The town’s books show $60,456 spent in 2023 and 2024, and $7,200 more budgeted for 2026. The same studies also covered a piece of town-owned land nearby.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$1,000the sale price in the 2023 draft agreement, after $16,000 was spent on player equipment in 2021
In 2021 the town started running its own team in the Eastern Ontario Super Hockey League, the Tweed Oil Kings. Council bought $16,000 of player equipment, got a liquor licence to run a bar at home games, and gave the team its own bank account. In late 2023 it sold the team to a private buyer. The draft sale agreement set the price at $1,000, with the team’s equipment, unsold merchandise and unspent sponsorship money going to the buyer. We could not find a report of what the team cost or earned while the town owned it.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 7 sources
Councillor Jacob Palmateer declared a conflict of interest twice in late 2021: once because he was “a current member/player” of the Tweed Oil Kings, and once because he “receives team equipment”. On several other decisions about the team, before and after those declarations, he moved or seconded the motions, including the $16,000 equipment purchase in July 2021 and, in October 2023, the draft sale agreement he was named to help negotiate. The minutes do not say when he joined or left the team.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 7 sources
+19%town property tax, 2023 to 2024
In 2024, Tweed collected $903K more in its own property tax than in 2023. That is a 19% jump, while prices went up about 2.4%. Only 1 of 73 similar towns raised theirs by more. Almost all of it came from a higher tax rate (up 17% for homes); the value of homes on the tax roll grew only 1.0%.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 7 sources
+74%running the town office, 2019 to 2024
Tweed spent $980K on running the town office in 2019 and $1.7M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 11 of 73 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 4 sources
+82%parks, arena and library, 2019 to 2024
Tweed spent $718K on parks, arena and library in 2019 and $1.3M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 8 of 73 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
$1.1Mowed in unpaid property tax, end of 2024
At the end of 2024, $1.1M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 12% of everything billed. Only 8 of 73 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $719K.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
$3.7Min temporary loans, end of 2024
At the end of 2024, Tweed owed $3.7M on temporary loans. That is like putting 34% of a year's income on a line of credit. This is short-term borrowing for building projects, which is normal while waiting for a grant or a long-term loan. But it was already $3.5M a year earlier, so it has lasted more than a year. Only 7 of 73 similar towns had any temporary loans at the end of 2024.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
Background that helps make sense of the rest.
50%of the 2025 capital budget spent by April 15, 2026
Capital spending means fixing and building things that last: roads, trucks, pipes, buildings. For 2025, council approved $4,478,798. By April 15, 2026, $2,227,852 had been spent. Grants and loans for capital also came in at 43% of plan. For 2026, council has approved almost the same amount again: $4,438,290.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
July 8, 2026some residents' taxes withdrawn twice
On July 8, 2026, some residents on the town's pre-authorized tax payment plan had their taxes taken from their bank accounts twice. The Mayor's July 21 message calls it a "software glitch", thanks staff for fixing it and starting to make things right within 24 hours, and says the OPP recognized it was an honest error. Refunds were paid by cheque, available from July 10 on request and July 13 to 15 for everyone else, and the town promised to cover bank fees.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
Tweed streams its council meetings on YouTube. Its website says each video stays up only until the minutes are approved. In practice, every regular council meeting since June 25, 2024 is still online. Videos of meetings from 2023 and early 2024 are not.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
Every year an outside auditor checks the town’s books, and the town posts the result. Tweed’s records portal has the audited statements for 2009 to 2023. The 2023 ones were signed in May 2024. We could not find the 2024 statements, more than a year later. Staff told council in September 2026 that the 2025 statements should be done by the end of October.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
Tweed posts its open tenders on a "Tender Opportunities" page, and says it also buys through two purchasing groups shared with other towns. What we could not find is a record of past tenders: who bid, who won, and for how much. Some awards appear in council minutes, but mostly the bigger ones, and they are hard to find.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
−$11.2Mnet financial position, 2024
In 2019, Tweed had $4.3M more in cash and money owed to it than it owed to others. By 2024 it was −$11.2M. About 53% of that change ($8.2M) is a new accounting rule from 2023: towns must now record the future cost of closing things like a landfill. That is not new spending or borrowing. Even leaving that out, only 7 of 73 similar towns are in a weaker position.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
$369per home on garbage, dump and recycling, 2024
Tweed spent about $369 per home on garbage, dump and recycling in 2024. The typical similar town spent $210. Only 8 of 73 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
$3.5Min savings at the end of 2024
Towns keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Tweed had $3.5M saved at the end of 2024, down from $5.7M in 2019. That is 36% of one year's spending. Only 6 of 73 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.
| Year | Savings (reserves) |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $5.7M |
| 2020 | $5.2M |
| 2021 | $5.2M |
| 2022 | $4.6M |
| 2023 | $3.4M |
| 2024 | $3.5M |
With little saved, a broken bridge or a storm has to be paid for with a sudden tax increase or a loan. Low savings can also mean past budgets were balanced by spending savings instead of facing the real cost.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Tweed? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Savings (reserves and reserve funds): 2019 $5.7M, 2020 $5.2M, 2021 $5.2M, 2022 $4.6M, 2023 $3.4M, 2024 $3.5M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 70, line 6420 · archived copy
Typical among similar towns: savings equal to 93% of a year's spending. Tweed: 36%.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 73 similar municipalities · Schedules 40 and 70 · archived copy
The town has said the same thing itself. Its 2024 budget presentation: of 52 bridges and large culverts, 32 need significant maintenance, rehabilitation or replacement within 10 years, and it puts the projected cost for 41 of them at $27,190,200 over those 10 years, which it equates to a 49.9% tax increase if paid from taxes alone.
2024 Public Budget Presentation · page 9
The same presentation projected water and sewer savings of $411,372 at the end of 2023, against $9,906,690 of water and sewer replacements due in the next 10 years, and said Tweed’s water and sewer rates were well below similar towns’.
2024 Public Budget Presentation · page 21
$182,736spent in 2025, against a revised budget of $40,000
For 2025, the town budgeted $40,000 for lawyers and other professionals in its main office. By April 15, 2026, it had spent $182,736. For 2026, it has budgeted $242,900, six times the 2025 plan, plus $40,000 for legal and professional fees in a new storm water budget. It is the third year running far over budget: $66,323 against $22,500 in 2023, and $134,569 against $22,500 in 2024. The town’s July 2026 report says most of the 2026 money pays for people on contract: a treasurer and a facility manager. It has not said what the 2025 money paid for.
Despite its name, a "legal and professional fees" line can pay for many things: lawyers, consultants, auditors, recruiters, or even staff hired on contract instead of as employees. Residents cannot judge whether the money is well spent, or compare it with salaries, unless the town says what it paid for.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Tweed? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: What the legal and professional fees were for, with wording you can copy.
Legal and Professional Fees (administration): 2025 revised budget $40,000, actual $182,736 (books as of April 15, 2026); the town's own forecast for the full year is also $182,736; 2026 budget $242,900.
By-law 2026-32, 2026 budget, Schedule A · page 2 of 23, account 01-110-53280
Earlier years, from the town’s 2025 budget: legal and professional fees were budgeted at $22,500 in 2023 and $66,322.95 was spent; budgeted at $22,500 in 2024 and $134,569.07 was spent (before the audit).
2025 Budget (Municipality of Tweed) · Administration detail, page 75 of the PDF
The same 2025 budget raised this line by $17,500 “to reflect potential costs of several legal matters that are currently in progress.”
2025 Budget (Municipality of Tweed) · Administration notes, page 18 of the PDF
The town’s July 2026 variance report explains the 2026 budget for this line: legal fees $46,400, a facility manager $67,000, the treasurer $122,000 and bank reconciliation $7,500 (together $242,900). It now forecasts $277,900 for 2026, with “additional $35K required for tax”, offset by a vacancy in salaries. $132,128 had been spent by July 31, 2026, and the 2025 year-end total stayed at $182,736.
Treasurer’s report to council, September 29, 2026 (July 2026 Budget Variance Report) · agenda package, Appendix A, line 65
Legal and Professional Fees (storm water): 2026 budget $40,000, a new line in a new storm water budget.
By-law 2026-32, 2026 budget, Schedule A · page 13 of 23, account 01-415-53280
+46%office salaries, 2025 budget to 2026 budget
The 2026 budget sets office salaries at $629,434, up from $431,947 in the 2025 budget. The books in April 2026 showed $536,059 spent on salaries in 2025 (the draft year-end says $521,462), so the new budget is also 17% above what was really spent. In 2025, salaries ran over budget, but a $150,000 line for a pay review was mostly unspent, so the two together came in slightly under budget.
The cost of running the town office has already grown much faster than prices since 2019 (see the question on office costs). Salaries are the biggest piece, and once added they repeat every year.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Tweed? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Administration Salaries and Wages: 2025 revised budget $431,947, 2025 actual $536,059, 2026 budget $629,434.
By-law 2026-32, 2026 budget, Schedule A · page 1 of 23, account 01-110-52000
The town’s July 2026 variance report: office salaries for 2025 finished at $521,462 in the draft year-end. For 2026, $347,828 had been spent by July 31, and the forecast for the year is $584,503, below the budget because of a “staff vacancy”.
Treasurer’s report to council, September 29, 2026 (July 2026 Budget Variance Report) · agenda package, Appendix A, line 28
Payroll Review and Pay Equity: 2025 revised budget $150,000, actual $17,555. Salaries and the pay review together: $581,947 budgeted, $553,614 spent.
By-law 2026-32, 2026 budget, Schedule A · page 2 of 23, account 01-110-52195
0entries in the online registry, checked 2026-09-30
When a council member has a personal stake in a decision, they must declare it and stay out of the discussion and vote. Since 2019, Ontario law says towns must keep a registry of these declarations that the public can inspect. It does not have to be online. The registry on Tweed's meeting portal has no entries, and we could not find one anywhere else online, but the town's own minutes record 41 declarations since 2020, 18 of them by the current council and committee.
The registry is how residents can see, in one place, who has a stake in what. If it is empty, the only way to find conflicts is to read hundreds of pages of minutes, which almost nobody does.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Tweed? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The "Conflicts Registry" on Tweed's meeting portal showed 0 entries on 2026-09-30.
Tweed meeting portal (eScribe), Conflicts Registry tab · archived copy
August 29, 2025: Committee member J.R. declared an interest in: A minor variance (reason not stated in the minutes).
May 13, 2025: Deputy Mayor J. DeMarsh declared an interest in: Two items where land could be resold through his workplace.
April 22, 2025: Deputy Mayor J. DeMarsh declared an interest in: Two rezonings where he could earn a commission as a real estate agent.
March 28, 2025: Committee member J.R. declared an interest in: A rezoning where his construction company was the proposed builder.
March 28, 2025: Committee member R.B. declared an interest in: A minor variance handled by the law office where she works.
November 12, 2024: Councillor J. Palmateer declared an interest in: A boundary road agreement near his family farm.
Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, section 6.1: every municipality and local board (including a Committee of Adjustment) must keep a registry of declarations and written statements, available for public inspection in the manner the municipality decides.
Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.50, s. 6.1 · archived copy
The minutes show 8 times since 2020 when a council member stayed out of a decision because a batch of town payments, a staff report or a tender involved a business owned by their family. Most involve one welding business owned by a current councillor's son, which came up at least 6 times between 2020 and 2022 in town payments, staff reports and a tender. Each time, the member declared it and stayed out of the discussion and the vote, which is what the law asks. What residents cannot see is how much these businesses were paid in total, or how they were chosen.
Staying out of the vote is the minimum. The bigger risk in a small town is that work slowly flows to people who are connected, without anyone breaking a rule. Totals and how each job was awarded are what show whether that is happening.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Tweed? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
August 25, 2020: Councillor J. Flieler. A staff report that mentioned a welding business he has a family relationship to.
September 9, 2020: Councillor J. Flieler. A batch of town payments that included a farm owned by relatives.
September 9, 2020: Councillor J. Flieler. Two staff reports involving a welding business owned by his son.
September 22, 2020: Mayor (2018-2022 term) J. Albert. A batch of town payments that included a business owned by her son.
January 13, 2021: Councillor J. Flieler. Town payments that included a welding business owned by his son.
April 14, 2021: Councillor J. Flieler. A tender for gateway signs that his son's welding business bid on. Council gave the job to a different company.
November 9, 2022: Councillor J. Flieler. Town payments that included a welding business owned by his son.
December 14, 2022: Councillor J. Flieler. Town payments that included a welding business owned by his son.
117 of 147council meetings we read had a closed session
Ontario lets councils meet privately for a few reasons, like staff matters, lawsuits or buying land. Tweed's council went behind closed doors at 117 of its 147 council meetings from June 10, 2020 to September 1, 2026. Afterwards, 114 times, it voted in public that "staff follow Council direction from the Closed Meeting", without saying what that direction was.
A closed meeting is allowed, but the public should still learn the outcome when it is safe to share. A vote to "follow the direction" tells residents that something was decided, but not what. Repeated often, it makes it hard to hold anyone to account.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Tweed? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
117 of 147 council and special council meetings (2020-06-10 to 2026-09-01) included a closed session. The most-cited reasons were personal matters about an identifiable person, litigation, labour relations and land.
April 28, 2026: "BE IT RESOLVED THAT staff follow Council direction from the Closed Meeting."
June 2, 2026: "BE IT RESOLVED THAT staff follow Council direction from the Closed Meeting."
June 5, 2026: "BE IT RESOLVED THAT staff follow Council direction from the Closed Meeting."
July 21, 2026: "BE IT RESOLVED THAT staff follow Council direction from the Closed Meeting."
Municipal Act, 2001, section 239: the reasons a meeting may be closed. A vote may be held in private only if the meeting was allowed to be closed, and only on procedural matters or directions to staff and contractors.
The Ontario Ombudsman: "Although there is no requirement under the Municipal Act, 2001 for municipal councils to report back in public after the conclusion of a closed meeting, the Ombudsman recommends this practice to increase transparency of the closed meeting process."
Ontario Ombudsman, Municipal Meeting Digest: report back · archived copy
A rewritten procedural by-law (By-law 2026-64) was on the September 29, 2026 council agenda. Its closed-meeting section says only the Mayor or their delegate may release information about a closed meeting, and members are to answer “no comment” until a matter is “reported publicly”. The copy on the agenda does not require council to report back in public after a closed meeting.
Council agenda package, September 29, 2026 (By-law 2026-64) · pages 129 to 146; closed meetings on pages 135 and 136
$60,456spent on the Hannah Street agreement in 2023 and 2024
In 2023 Tweed agreed to take over Hannah Street, a road owned by a private landowner, for its road network. Instead of paying for the land, the town agreed to pay for environmental studies needed to rezone the owner’s other land next door from industrial to housing, pay the owner’s application fees for up to 4 new lots, and waive its own rezoning fee. The town’s books show $60,456 spent in 2023 and 2024, and $7,200 more budgeted for 2026. The same studies also covered a piece of town-owned land nearby.
Trading services for land can be a good deal for everyone. But residents cannot judge it without knowing what the road was worth, how much of the study money was for the owner’s land rather than the town’s, and what the road will cost to maintain from now on.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Tweed? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: The Hannah Street agreement, with wording you can copy.
The draft agreement: the owner transfers Hannah Street (RP 21R18866 Parts 4 and 5) to the town. In exchange the town will complete Phase 1 and 2 environmental assessments “as required for rezoning”, pay the conservation authority and Hastings County consent fees for up to 4 new residential lots on the owner’s neighbouring land, and waive the rezoning fee from Urban Industrial to residential. The owner agrees to begin development before November 14, 2026.
DRAFT Agreement Re Hannah Street (council agenda, July 11, 2023) · sections 1, 2 and 5
Council approved the draft agreement on July 11, 2023 and passed By-law 2023-65 to sign it on August 8, 2023.
Council minutes, August 8, 2023 · item 12.3
Staff asked three firms to quote and two replied. Council chose Cambium: Phase 1 at $10,100, Phase 2 at $56,250, and $2,500 per lot for a Record of Site Condition, all plus HST. The other firm quoted $15,150 for Phase 1 and said Phase 2 could cost $10,000 to $100,000. The report says the work covered Hannah Street and vacant municipal land on George Street, and that it was not budgeted until 2024 but the agreement says “time is of the essence”.
Staff report, Awarding EA Phase 1 and 2 Contracts (council agenda, October 26, 2023) · pages 1 and 2
Hannah St Studies and Fees: $7,550.59 spent in 2023; $59,784 budgeted and $52,905.02 spent in 2024 (before the audit).
2025 Budget (Municipality of Tweed) · Administration detail, page 75 of the PDF, account 01-110-53281
Hannah St Studies and Fees: $7,200 in the 2026 budget.
By-law 2026-32, 2026 budget, Schedule A · page 2 of 23, account 01-110-53281
$1,000the sale price in the 2023 draft agreement, after $16,000 was spent on player equipment in 2021
In 2021 the town started running its own team in the Eastern Ontario Super Hockey League, the Tweed Oil Kings. Council bought $16,000 of player equipment, got a liquor licence to run a bar at home games, and gave the team its own bank account. In late 2023 it sold the team to a private buyer. The draft sale agreement set the price at $1,000, with the team’s equipment, unsold merchandise and unspent sponsorship money going to the buyer. We could not find a report of what the team cost or earned while the town owned it.
Running a sports team is not a usual job for a town. Residents should be able to see what it cost, what it brought in, and whether selling it for $1,000 with its equipment was the best deal available.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Tweed? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
June 9, 2021: council approved the Tweed Oil Kings name and logo and opened a separate bank account for the team.
Council minutes, June 9, 2021 · items 10.2 and 13.2.3
July 21, 2021 (special meeting): council approved “the purchase of Tweed Oil Kings player equipment in the amount of $16,000.”
Special council minutes, July 21, 2021 · item 9.1.1
July 27, 2021: council approved selling alcohol at home games “to increase revenue for the team” and a liquor licence at a cost of $925.
Council minutes, July 27, 2021 · item 13.1.4
May 11, 2022: council gave the team’s general manager the right of first refusal to buy the team if it were ever sold. A waiver of that right, dated September 1, 2023, is attached to the 2023 sale agreement.
Council minutes, May 11, 2022 · item 16.12
The 2024 budget presentation lists the team’s 2023 budget: $38,500 for materials, $6,500 for contracted services and $4,750 for rents and financial costs, against $2,000 of other revenue, all gone in 2024 after the sale.
2024 Public Budget Presentation · pages 41 and 42
The draft purchase agreement: the buyer pays “ONE-THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,000.00)”, takes the team’s chattels (equipment), volunteers, player roster and unsold merchandise, receives a summary of unspent sponsorship and advertising money, keeps the team in Tweed, rents the town’s ice, and gives the town a 4-year right to buy the team back.
DRAFT Oil Kings Purchase Agreement (council agenda, October 10, 2023) · sections 3.2 to 3.4 and schedules B, G and K
November 14, 2023: council passed By-law 2023-85 to sign the purchase agreement with an Ontario numbered company.
Council minutes, November 14, 2023 · item 14.1
Councillor Jacob Palmateer declared a conflict of interest twice in late 2021: once because he was “a current member/player” of the Tweed Oil Kings, and once because he “receives team equipment”. On several other decisions about the team, before and after those declarations, he moved or seconded the motions, including the $16,000 equipment purchase in July 2021 and, in October 2023, the draft sale agreement he was named to help negotiate. The minutes do not say when he joined or left the team.
The conflict of interest law asks council members to declare any money interest, stay out of the discussion and not vote. Declaring on some items about a team but not others makes it hard for residents to tell whether the rule was applied the same way each time.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Tweed? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
June 9, 2021: Councillor Palmateer moved the motions to open the team’s bank account and to approve its name and logo.
Council minutes, June 9, 2021 · items 10.2 and 13.2.3
July 21, 2021 (special meeting): no declarations of interest were recorded (“None”). Councillor Palmateer moved the motion to approve the purchase of team player equipment for $16,000.
Special council minutes, July 21, 2021 · items 4 and 9.1.1
July 27, 2021: he moved the motion to let the team sell alcohol at home games. August 24, 2021: his notice of motion to use the team’s 50/50 draw to help charities, with the town’s 3% licensing fee used “to help fund the Tweed Oil Kings”. September 8, 2021: he seconded extending alcohol to the arena seating area after the team’s liquor licence report.
Council minutes, July 27, August 24 and September 8, 2021 · July 27, item 13.1.4; August 24 (DocumentId 2654), item 20.1; September 8 (DocumentId 2818), item 13.2.4
October 13, 2021: “Councillor J. Palmateer disclosed a possible conflict of interest on Agenda Item No. 13.2.2 - Tweed Oil Kings Updated Budget as he is a current member/player for the Tweed Oil Kings”, and left before the item.
Council minutes, October 13, 2021 · item 3
December 8, 2021: he declared a conflict on the approval of accounts “as he is a part of the Tweed Oil Kings team and receives team equipment”, and left the room.
Council minutes, December 8, 2021 · item 3
March 9, 2022: he seconded the motion letting the Tweed Oil Kings run a bar at the Family Feud hockey weekend. August 23, 2022: he seconded the motion on a proposal to stream the team’s home games.
Council minutes, March 9, 2022 · item 13.2.2; August 23, 2022 (DocumentId 6309), item 17.13
May 9, 2023: council named Councillor Valiquette and Councillor Palmateer to meet the team’s general manager on its terms of reference. August 8, 2023: he seconded approval of the Tweed Oil Kings Committee terms of reference. October 10, 2023: he moved approval of the draft purchase agreement, with final details to be negotiated by Councillors Valiquette and Palmateer and staff.
Council minutes, October 10, 2023 · item 11.7; May 9, 2023 (DocumentId 7795), item 9.2; August 8, 2023 (DocumentId 8022), item 9.3.4
+19%town property tax, 2023 to 2024
In 2024, Tweed collected $903K more in its own property tax than in 2023. That is a 19% jump, while prices went up about 2.4%. Only 1 of 73 similar towns raised theirs by more. Almost all of it came from a higher tax rate (up 17% for homes); the value of homes on the tax roll grew only 1.0%.
| Year | Town property tax |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $4.2M |
| 2020 | $4.2M |
| 2021 | $4.3M |
| 2022 | $4.4M |
| 2023 | $4.7M |
| 2024 | $5.6M |
A big one-year jump usually means something changed: a new cost, a service that grew, savings being rebuilt, or a problem from earlier years being paid for now. Residents should be able to see exactly which. Spread across every home, it is about $297 more each year.
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Town property tax: $4,725,168 in 2023, $5,628,031 in 2024.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 10, line 9940 · archived copy
Typical increase among 73 similar Ontario towns: 7.8%. Tweed ranks 2nd highest.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 73 similar municipalities · Schedule 10, line 9940 · archived copy
Residential tax rate (town share): 0.723% in 2023, 0.844% in 2024. Residential assessment: $573M to $579M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 22, residential (RT) · archived copy
Prices (inflation) rose 2.4% over the same year.
The town’s own explanation, in its 2024 budget presentation: “Funding debt payments and past deficits” added $443,846 (a 9.6% increase in the tax levy) and a tandem snow plow $330,000 (7.13%). The total increase in the town’s tax levy was 17.80%, or about $121 a year for each $100,000 of assessment.
2024 Public Budget Presentation · pages 8 and 12
The same presentation says 2022 ended with a deficit of $344,369, part paid from savings in 2023 and the rest spread over the remaining years of the council term ($89,591 a year). It also gives the average 2023 tax per household as $1,521 in Tweed, against $2,327 for “Marmora & Lake, Stirling-Rawdon, Centre Hastings, Bancroft and Tweed”, and says that before 2024 only 63% of the growth in operating costs since 2004 had been paid for by property taxes.
2024 Public Budget Presentation · pages 7 and 30
In September 2026 the treasurer told council: “the deficit that was carried by Council for several years was eliminated in 2024.”
Treasurer’s report to council, September 29, 2026 · agenda package, page 57
+74%running the town office, 2019 to 2024
Tweed spent $980K on running the town office in 2019 and $1.7M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 11 of 73 similar towns had faster growth here.
| Year | Running the town office | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | +14% | +1% |
| 2021 | +26% | +4% |
| 2022 | +51% | +11% |
| 2023 | +118% | +16% |
| 2024 | +74% | +18% |
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
Money spent running the office is money not spent on roads, water or safety. When office costs grow much faster than the services people see, it is fair to ask what the extra money is buying.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
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Running the town office: 2019 $980K, 2020 $1.1M, 2021 $1.2M, 2022 $1.5M, 2023 $2.1M, 2024 $1.7M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: Office and administration, from $872K to $1.6M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Typical growth among similar towns: 45%. Tweed ranks 12th of 74.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 73 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 · archived copy
The town’s 2024 budget presentation lists some of the reasons for that year: a 3% wage increase “to help offset past increases below inflation”, a pay equity consultant ($20,000), and studies and planning fees for the Hannah Street purchase ($59,784). It also lists savings: one conference per council member, and no staff Christmas party.
2024 Public Budget Presentation · page 29
+82%parks, arena and library, 2019 to 2024
Tweed spent $718K on parks, arena and library in 2019 and $1.3M in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time. Only 8 of 73 similar towns had faster growth here.
| Year | Parks, arena and library | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | +3% | +1% |
| 2021 | +25% | +4% |
| 2022 | +34% | +11% |
| 2023 | +66% | +16% |
| 2024 | +82% | +18% |
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
When one area grows much faster than prices, it is either doing more (which may be great) or paying more for the same thing. Residents deserve to know which.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
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Parks, arena and library: 2019 $718K, 2020 $742K, 2021 $900K, 2022 $966K, 2023 $1.2M, 2024 $1.3M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: Arena and buildings, from $304K to $671K.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Typical growth among similar towns: 43%. Tweed ranks 9th of 74.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 73 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 · archived copy
$1.1Mowed in unpaid property tax, end of 2024
At the end of 2024, $1.1M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 12% of everything billed. Only 8 of 73 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $719K.
| Year | Unpaid property tax at year end |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $900K |
| 2020 | $867K |
| 2021 | $662K |
| 2022 | $692K |
| 2023 | $719K |
| 2024 | $1.1M |
When taxes go unpaid, everyone else carries the cost, and the town may borrow to cover the gap. The Province's financial indicators treat 10% to 15% as a moderate risk and more than 15% as a high risk. Collection is the town's job, so a rising number is worth asking about.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
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Taxes receivable: 2019 $900K, 2020 $867K, 2021 $662K, 2022 $692K, 2023 $719K, 2024 $1.1M. Of the 2024 total, $235K was from earlier years.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 70, lines 0610 to 0699 · archived copy
Typical among similar towns: 7.9% of taxes billed.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 73 similar municipalities · Schedules 26 and 70 · archived copy
On August 11, 2026 council adopted new property tax policies for billing and collection, tax sales, and cancellations, reductions and refunds (By-law 2026-59), 3 votes to 2. They replace the town’s earlier tax collection policy from 2022.
Council minutes, August 11, 2026 (in the September 1, 2026 agenda package) · pages 11 and 13
$3.7Min temporary loans, end of 2024
At the end of 2024, Tweed owed $3.7M on temporary loans. That is like putting 34% of a year's income on a line of credit. This is short-term borrowing for building projects, which is normal while waiting for a grant or a long-term loan. But it was already $3.5M a year earlier, so it has lasted more than a year. Only 7 of 73 similar towns had any temporary loans at the end of 2024.
| Year | Temporary loans |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $0 |
| 2020 | $0 |
| 2021 | $1.5M |
| 2022 | $0 |
| 2023 | $3.5M |
| 2024 | $3.7M |
Short-term loans usually cost more interest and can be called in. If they roll over year after year, the town is really carrying debt that does not show up as long-term debt.
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Temporary loans: 2019 $0, 2020 $0, 2021 $1.5M, 2022 $0, 2023 $3.5M, 2024 $3.7M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 70, line 2099 · archived copy
The audited 2023 statements (note 22) say the temporary loan is from Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation, for the Joe Allore bridge, the McClellan and Pomeroy project and Queensborough Hall, with up to $5,237,602 available. $3,494,762 had been drawn by the end of 2023.
2023 Tweed Consolidated Financial Statements · note 22, page 22
On June 23, 2026 council passed By-law 2026-44, 4 votes to 1, to apply to the same lender for a long-term loan for capital work.
50%of the 2025 capital budget spent by April 15, 2026
Capital spending means fixing and building things that last: roads, trucks, pipes, buildings. For 2025, council approved $4,478,798. By April 15, 2026, $2,227,852 had been spent. Grants and loans for capital also came in at 43% of plan. For 2026, council has approved almost the same amount again: $4,438,290.
When projects are budgeted but not done, roads keep wearing out, prices rise, and it becomes hard to tell whether the budget is a real plan. It is worth knowing which projects slipped and why.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
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Capital expense: 2025 revised budget $4,478,798, actual $2,227,852 (books as of April 15, 2026); 2026 budget $4,438,290.
By-law 2026-32, 2026 budget, Schedule A · page 23 of 23, summary
Capital revenue (grants, loans and other funding for projects): 2025 revised budget $4,328,220, received $1,876,287.
By-law 2026-32, 2026 budget, Schedule A · page 23 of 23, summary
The treasurer’s draft 2025 year-end, reported to council in September 2026: capital spending was $2,304,392 against a revised budget of $4,565,193, and capital revenue $2.45 million below plan. Grants came in at $26,190 of $969,325 expected. The biggest gaps: water, $48,595 spent of $914,561 ("No grant funding"); pool construction, nothing spent of $427,200 ("no grant funding"); garbage, $5,024 of $250,000; park improvements, $91,234 of $374,777. Bridges came in $357,184 under budget.
Treasurer’s report to council, September 29, 2026 (July 2026 Budget Variance Report) · agenda package, pages 55 to 58
July 8, 2026some residents' taxes withdrawn twice
On July 8, 2026, some residents on the town's pre-authorized tax payment plan had their taxes taken from their bank accounts twice. The Mayor's July 21 message calls it a "software glitch", thanks staff for fixing it and starting to make things right within 24 hours, and says the OPP recognized it was an honest error. Refunds were paid by cheque, available from July 10 on request and July 13 to 15 for everyone else, and the town promised to cover bank fees.
The town has explained the cause. What residents still have not been told publicly is how many people and how much money were affected, whether every refund and bank fee has been paid, and what checks now stop it happening again. A short report to council would close the question.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Tweed? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: The July 2026 tax withdrawal error, with wording you can copy.
Notices, July 8 to 10, 2026: "some individuals may have experienced additional or duplicate withdrawals"; the town would reverse them and "reimburse any fees or charges"; refunds moved to cheques, same-day on request on July 10, otherwise for pickup July 13 to 15 or by mail.
Municipality of Tweed, News and Notices, July 8 to 10, 2026 · archived copy
Mayor's message, July 21, 2026: describes "the software glitch that resulted in some residents having their bank accounts debited twice", fixed within 24 hours, and says "I am grateful that the OPP recognized that from the outset."
Municipality of Tweed, Council News and Notes, July 21, 2026
We found no report to council about it in the July 21 minutes, in the text of the August 11, September 1 and September 29 agendas, or in the August 11 and September 1 newsletters.
Tweed streams its council meetings on YouTube. Its website says each video stays up only until the minutes are approved. In practice, every regular council meeting since June 25, 2024 is still online. Videos of meetings from 2023 and early 2024 are not.
Minutes are short summaries. The video is the only full record of what was said, so residents can check a debate or whether the minutes are a fair summary. The town is keeping recent videos, which is good, but its written policy still says they come down. A practice that is not written down can change quietly.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Tweed? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
"Meeting videos will remain on the Youtube Channel until the minutes of that meeting have been approved by Council and posted online."
On September 30, 2026 the channel had 54 council, special and budget meeting videos from June 25, 2024 onward, including every regular council meeting, and none of the 2023 regular meetings.
Municipality of Tweed, YouTube uploads · counted September 30, 2026
Every year an outside auditor checks the town’s books, and the town posts the result. Tweed’s records portal has the audited statements for 2009 to 2023. The 2023 ones were signed in May 2024. We could not find the 2024 statements, more than a year later. Staff told council in September 2026 that the 2025 statements should be done by the end of October.
The audited statements are the most trustworthy picture of the town’s money: an independent accountant has checked them. Ontario law asks towns to publish them once they are ready. Without them, residents rely on the budget and on the yearly report to the Province, which no auditor signs.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Tweed? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The "Financial Reports" link on the town’s website opens a records portal folder with 15 documents: financial statements for 2009 to 2023, and nothing later, when we looked on September 30, 2026.
On September 29, 2026 the treasurer told council the auditors had begun preliminary work on the 2025 audit, and that the 2025 Financial Information Return and financial statements should be finished before the end of October. The target had been July; the report says the delay was due to workload.
Treasurer’s report to council, September 29, 2026 (July 2026 Budget Variance Report) · agenda package, pages 55 to 58
The 2023 statements carry an independent auditor’s report from Baker Tilly KDN LLP dated May 22, 2024, with a clean opinion.
2023 Tweed Consolidated Financial Statements · pages 4 and 5
Tweed posts its open tenders on a "Tender Opportunities" page, and says it also buys through two purchasing groups shared with other towns. What we could not find is a record of past tenders: who bid, who won, and for how much. Some awards appear in council minutes, but mostly the bigger ones, and they are hard to find.
A simple list of contracts (what, who, how much, and whether it was tendered) is the best tool residents have for spotting favouritism, contracts split to avoid tendering, or overpaying. Posting open tenders is a good start; publishing the results finishes the job.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Tweed? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The records that would answer this can be requested: Contracts awarded, and how, with wording you can copy.
The "Tender Opportunities" page listed an open request for quotes for winter maintenance, and named Local Authority Services (LAS) and Canoe Procurement Group as shared buying groups. It lists no past tenders or winners.
−$11.2Mnet financial position, 2024
In 2019, Tweed had $4.3M more in cash and money owed to it than it owed to others. By 2024 it was −$11.2M. About 53% of that change ($8.2M) is a new accounting rule from 2023: towns must now record the future cost of closing things like a landfill. That is not new spending or borrowing. Even leaving that out, only 7 of 73 similar towns are in a weaker position.
| Year | Net financial position |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $4.3M |
| 2020 | $3.8M |
| 2021 | $1.2M |
| 2022 | $138K |
| 2023 | −$11.6M |
| 2024 | −$11.2M |
This number is one of the clearest signs of whether a town is living within its means. The accounting-rule part is a bill that will come due when the landfill closes, not money already spent. The rest is real borrowing and spending of savings.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
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Net financial assets: 2019 $4.3M, 2020 $3.8M, 2021 $1.2M, 2022 $138K, 2023 −$11.6M, 2024 −$11.2M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 70, line 9945 · archived copy
Future landfill and similar closing costs recorded: $8.2M. Long-term debt: $2.2M. Temporary loans: $3.7M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2024 · Schedule 70, lines 2920, 2699, 2099 · archived copy
$369per home on garbage, dump and recycling, 2024
Tweed spent about $369 per home on garbage, dump and recycling in 2024. The typical similar town spent $210. Only 8 of 73 similar towns spent more.
Spending more than neighbours is not wrong by itself. It might buy better service. But it is the first place to look for costs that could be lower, such as contracts that were not competitively bid.
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Tweed? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Garbage, dump and recycling per home: Tweed $369; typical similar town $210; ranked 9th highest of 74.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2024, 73 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 and Schedule 2 · archived copy