Cobourg, ON – September 16, 2026 – Northumberland County is continuing its commitment to transparency and open government with the release of its first fully digital Annual Report.
The new digital format makes it easier for residents, businesses and community partners to access audited financial statements for the County, while also exploring related work, investments and accomplishments over the past year. Designed with accessibility and ease of use in mind, the online report allows users to review key highlights and financial data from the 2025 fiscal year, and learn more about how the County is serving the community.
“Providing clear, accessible information about the decisions of County Council and the work of Northumberland County staff is an important part of our commitment to transparency,” says County Warden Bob Crate. “Our new digital format for the County’s Annual Report makes it even easier for residents to learn about the impact of their tax dollars throughout the community.”
Some key highlights from 2025
Ignite Economic Opportunity
- Expanded connectivity: Launched the Northumberland Broadband Project to bring high-speed internet to 11K households and businesses across the county by summer 2027.
- Attracted local talent: Worked with high schools and colleges to offer innovative experiential learning and recruitment programs, building connections with students as future prospective employees, and introducing them to local opportunities.
- Stimulated innovative business: Encouraged support for local businesses with the launch of a multi-year Buy Local campaign, provided over $127K in micro grants to support local small businesses, hosted 165 women at our third annual women’s entrepreneurship conference, and supported the production of $4.26 million worth of ‘Made in Ontario’ agri-food products.
Foster a thriving community
- Advanced Indigenous relations and reconciliation: Expanded consultation and engagement with Indigenous Rights Holders and delivered staff training.
- Enhanced community health and well-being: Opened 181 new child care spaces and hosted two ID clinics to help community members obtain identification documents.
- Increased development of affordable housing and expanded pathways out of homelessness: Opened 22 new affordable housing units in Cobourg, created $42,000 of additional rent subsidies for vulnerable community members, and increased street outreach across Northumberland.
- Responded to the climate crisis and protected our natural assets: Advanced the preservation of the County Forest through prescribed burns, planting, etiquette awareness building, and invasive species surveys, and consulted community members on the development of a Climate Action Strategy.
Propel sustainable growth
- Directed growth: Began land acquisition to build workforce housing.
- Built and maintained infrastructure: Implemented safety improvements at Welcome intersection in Port Hope, replaced Burnley Bridge in Trent Hills, rehabilitated the Baltimore retaining wall in Hamilton, continued reconstruction of County Road 64 in Brighton, carried out preventive maintenance on 8.2km of road in Alnwick/Haldimand, surface treated 6km of road in Cramahe Township, and progressed numerous multi-year infrastructure projects, including the final stages of the Golden Plough Lodge & Northumberland County Archives and Museum in Cobourg.
- Manage waste responsibly: Extended the life of our landfill through proof of residency procedures, the introduction of a new mattress diversion program and, in alignment with a province-wide initiative, transitioned responsibility for recycling collection to producers.
Residents can learn more by exploring the full report at Northumberland.ca/AnnualReport.
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