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At Tuesday night’s meeting, the City Commission approved a not-to-exceed budget for publication that includes a 1-mill reduction in the tax rate.
Newton’s assessed valuation rose by 12.7% for next year, a large increase after many years of relatively stagnant growth. With the mill levy reduction, the City will take in revenue equivalent to an 11% increase in valuation.
The proposed $63.3 million budget includes:
- Four new positions at least partially funded by property taxes: an engineer, an IT technician, a Street maintenance worker and a Park maintenance worker.
- New swing sets installed at City parks and additional funding for playground replacement.
- Lighting for flags at Greenwood Cemetery.
- Increased software and IT security costs.
- About $400,000 for an anticipated increase in employee wages following a classification and salary study to make sure the City remains competitive in the job market.
The proposed budget projects a General Fund balance of 14.4% for 2025; the City strives to maintain a balance of 15%.
The Commission will hold public hearings for the budget and the Revenue Neutral Rate at 7 p.m. Aug. 27.
The Commission approved an agreement to resolve debt owed on Building V at Newton City/County Airport. The building was originally built in 2015 for ABI Chemicals before being repossessed by the City in 2018. It was sold in 2022 to 620 N. Oliver LLC for $1.75 million, with the City and County maintaining a ground lease on the underlying property. Emprise Bank held a mortgage on the building, and the City held a second mortgage for $350,000. The tenant has since defaulted, and the parties have been working to resolve the amounts owed.
Under the agreement between the City, County, Emprise Bank, and 620 N. Oliver LLC, the City will sell its mortgage to Emprise for $320,500, a discount of 5%, and the tenant or Emprise will pay all delinquent rents and assure future ground lease payments. Harvey County is scheduled to consider the agreement on July 30.
- Awarded a contract for remodeling of the new Police Training Building at 214 E. Sixth St. to Accel Construction for $397,600. The project will be funded with $40,000 remaining in the budget from the 2020 Law Enforcement Center remodel, $240,000 in special law enforcement funds, and $117,600 in economic development sales tax funds.
- Authorized the sale of about $10.5 million in General Obligation Bonds for six completed capital projects, including K-15 paving, the new library, SE Fourth Street reconstruction, SW 24th Street bridge improvements, and two projects partially payable by special assessments: Autumn Glen street paving and Full Vision sewer extension.
- Approved an engineering agreement for design and bidding services for reconstruction of Runway 8-26 at Newton City/County Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration will fund 90% of the runway project, with the remaining 10% split between the City and Harvey County. The City’s portion of the design costs is $16,263.43.
- Proclaimed July 29 as “Together, We Can Deliver Day” in recognition of Meals on Wheels and NMC Health.
- Adopted the Kansas Homeland Security Region G Hazard Mitigation Plan.
- Approved a temporary alcohol permit for the Bulls & Barrels Bash at the Harvey County Fair on Aug. 10.
- Accepted the 2023 Audit Report.
For more information, please contact Communications Director Erin McDaniel at 316-284-6055 or emcdaniel@newtonkansas.com.
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