Photo: Erinmcd · CC BY 2.5Newton spent more per resident in 2022 than 90% of similar cities
Newton’s city government spent $26.9 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, about $1,463 per resident. Water and other utilities ($4 million) and the airport ($1.6 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Newton is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$1,559 per resident in 2022: more than 90% of them
Newton’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,559 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 49 Kansas cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,012, and the middle half spent $786–$1,315. Newton spent more than 90% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($10.6 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 →
Kansas 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).
About $1,463 per resident a year, or $4.01 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 29%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is down 8% 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
Per resident: 2022: $1,559 · 2023: $1,514 · 2024: $1,463.
full-time in March 2025, up from 201 in 2022.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $2,514 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.61% of the home’s value, vs 1.29% across Kansas.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
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’s in charge in Newton
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Newton’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on newtonkansas.com ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 82 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 (18,392).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Newton Unified School District 373
Newton’s K–12 school district, shared with Newton Township, North Newton, Walton, Darlington Township, Walton Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $17,375 per pupil, $10,557 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.
Kansas districts overall: 28% local, 61% state, 11% federal.
Halstead Unified School District 440 · $13,978 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Newton voted in 2024
Official results for Newton’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Donald J TrumpRepublican54.9%4,381 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat43.2%3,451 votesOthers: 1.9% (152 votes).
Most votes in Newton: Donald J Trump
Harvey County: Trump 59.6%, Harris 38.6% · Kansas: Trump 57.2%, Harris 41.0%
of Newton’s 13,849 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Kansas: 62%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in the district: Ron Estes
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Newton, its county and the state
| Trump | Harris | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newton | 54.9% | 43.2% | 1.9% | 7,984 |
| Harvey County | 59.6% | 38.6% | 1.8% | 16,086 |
| Kansas | 57.2% | 41.0% | 1.8% | 1,327,591 |
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.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Newton.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: newtonkansas.com ↗
- 2Kansas HouseNewton is split between 2 districts
- 3Kansas SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Kansas
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Newton compares with the towns next door
Newton spent $1,559 per resident in 2022. Most of its neighbors are townships, a different kind of government, so the like-for-like comparison is with similar cities, above. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Newton Township | $34 | $3,547 |
| Sedgwick Township | $107 | $2,612 |
| Macon Township | $337 | $2,897 |
| Darlington Township | estimate | $3,272 |
| North Newton | estimate | $3,617 |
| Newton | $1,559 | $2,514 |
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.
Questions about Newton’s government
How much does Newton spend per resident?
About $1,463 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,559 was more than 90% of 49 Kansas 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 $2,514 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.61% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.29% across Kansas. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see newtonkansas.com.
Who runs Newton’s government?
See newtonkansas.com 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?
For president, Donald J Trump 54.9%, Kamala D Harris 43.2% (7,984 votes, official results). Harvey County: Trump 59.6%, Harris 38.6%. Kansas: Trump 57.2%, Harris 41.0%.
How many people work for Newton?
223 full-time and 12 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $1.4M (about $16.5M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Newton in the state legislature?
Newton is split among 2 State House districts, so your address decides. The Kansas Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 31 (Stephen Owens). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Newton’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
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 →