Budget hearings are underway for Newton City Council members as they work towards crafting a spending plan to operate the city for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. Newton City Administrator Matt Muckler says city staff is talking to council members about increased costs in supplies and utilities.

“At the end of the day, we are trying to give the best possible information to the city council so they can make the best decisions. The most important thing they do every year is make the budget. That’s the number one important thing council members do in a given year.”

Muckler notes the City of Newton spends  a million dollars on electricity every year. Muckler also states that electricity costs are expecting double digit increases, which will have a big impact on the city budget. The Newton City Administrator notes Newton’s property tax levy went down last year for the first time in eight years, and that the 4-cent decrease reduced this current fiscal year’s levy to $17.10. 

Hear more about the budget-making process from Newton City Administrator Matt Muckler on today’s Let’s Talk Newton.