Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Newton

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
The Emerson Hough Elementary SchoolPhoto: Boscophotos · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Newton

How is Newton run?

Newton’s city government spent $28 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $1,786 per resident. Water and other utilities ($5.1 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Next public meeting

Zoning Board of Adjustment

4:30 pm · 101 W 4th St S

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$28.0M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,786
In 2022: $1,485, more than 56% of 23 similar cities
Long-term debt
$40.6M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2025
132
full-time · 25 part-time · March payroll $893,338
Typical tax bill
$2,742
1.78% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Newton is run

Read from the city’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Runs its own water & sewer45% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).A shared school districtShares Newton Community School District with 2 other towns.Its own police and fire30 sworn officers and 28 full-time firefighters on the payroll.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Newton’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2024 budget

About $1,786 per resident a year, or $4.89 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 36%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 32%Fees & charges 23%From the state 14%Interest, fines & other 11%Utility sales 9%Sales taxes 7%From the federal government 2%Other taxes & licenses 1%From other local governments 1%
Not in the receipt.Interest on debt $1.2 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $34.8 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,485 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Newton’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,485 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 23 Iowa cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,462, and the middle half spent $1,179–$1,838. Newton spent more than 56% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,179–$1,838Median $1,462Newton

Includes sewer and trash ($5.2 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
23

Iowa cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Newton itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 25% since 2022

Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Newton reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$22.5 million
2023$21.3 million
2024$28 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,485 · 2023: $1,357 · 2024: $1,786.

City staff
132

full-time in March 2025, up from 124 in 2022.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,742 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.78% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897
Lambs Grove$2,833
Newton$2,742
$2,742
typical bill a year
1.78%
effective rate
$153,700
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Newton’s rate.

Can I afford it? →

The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Tax bills are one input to Newton’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Newton →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Newton

Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.

See newtongov.org for Newton’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Newton yet.newtongov.org ↗
Who works for Newton

One full-time city employee for every 119 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (15,688).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Police33
Fire30
Parks & libraries14 + 17 pt
Sewer & trash14
Water & other utilities14
Administration & buildings7 + 7 pt
Roads & transportation10 + 1 pt
Housing & development5
Health & welfare3
Other2
132
full-time
25
part-time
$893,338
payroll for March 2025
$10.7M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$79,700
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
30
sworn police officers
28
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Newton had 8.2 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 21 of the 23 Iowa cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 7.2: Newton had more than 71% of them. Same group and year as the budget comparison.

The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

The school district

Newton Community School District

Newton’s K–12 school district, shared with Kellogg, Lambs Grove. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Newton →
$14,495
per pupil · IA $13,713
2,770
students
$20.7 million
long-term debt

Of the $14,495 per pupil, $7,925 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from
Local 38%State 56%Federal 6%

Iowa districts overall: 43% local, 49% state, 8% federal.

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Elections · 2024 general election

Newton’s votes are counted by county

Iowa reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Newton alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Jasper County’s results.

President · Jasper County’s results20,149 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican63.0%12,701 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat35.4%7,141 votes

Others: 1.5% (307 votes).

Most votes in Jasper County: Donald J Trump

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

100% of Newton lies in Jasper County. Every 2024 race in Jasper County is on the county’s page.

Jasper County’s 2024 results →
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.

Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.

Who represents Newton

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Newton.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: newtongov.org ↗
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseState representatives
    District 38
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
    Ken Rozenboom
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Kim Reynolds
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Mariannette Miller-Meeks
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Iowa
    Chuck GrassleyJoni Ernst

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Next door

How Newton compares with the towns next door

Newton spent $1,485 per resident in 2022; the neighbor that reported 2022 spent $806. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Lambs Grove: $806 per resident (2022)Lambs GroveNewton
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Lambs Grove$806$2,833
Newton$1,485$2,742

Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).

Reach Newton’s government

The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.

The Handbook →
Official websitenewtongov.org ↗

Questions about Newton’s government

How much does Newton spend per resident?

About $1,786 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,485 was more than 56% of 23 Iowa cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Newton?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,742 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.78% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see newtongov.org.

Who runs Newton’s government?

See newtongov.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Newton yet.

How did Newton vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Newton alone. Jasper County, where 100% of Newton lies, voted Trump 63.0%, Harris 35.4% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Newton?

132 full-time and 25 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $893,338 (about $10.7M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Newton in the state legislature?

State Senate District 19 (Ken Rozenboom) and State House District 38. The House district also covers 11 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Newton?

The next posted meeting is Zoning Board of Adjustment on Wednesday, November 4, at 4:30 pm in 101 W 4th St S, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Newton’s government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →