March 19, 2024

Newton City Council begins budget talks

In a meeting that is typically held in January, the Newton City Council heard from the city’s four major stakeholders on Monday.

Representatives from the Newton Development Corporation, Newton Convention and Visitors Bureau, Newton Housing Development Corporation and Newton Main Street gave presentations regarding funding requests for the forthcoming budget season and gave updates on the work they have done and plans they have for the coming year.

Newton Development Corporation

One big change for NDC is the addition of rent for its office at DMACC or a new undecided space. In previous years, NDC has not had to pay rent for its office space in the building, but starting in 2016, the corporation expects to add $1,500 to $1,750 per month in rental fees, affecting its budget drastically.

"We have been extremely blessed and fortunate over the years to pay very little if not nothing. That will change in 2016," NDC chair Jo Jenkins said. "Most of our increase that we have asked from the city is to help place us in another location. We don't know where that is going to be right now, but we are looking into sites."

She said the change occurred rather quickly, but they will be fine in their current location until March.

As for its budget request, the NDC operates on a calendar year and is funded from Jan. 1, 2016 through June 30, 2016 at a flat rate of $31,250.

“We’re requesting a funding cycle of 18 months from July 1, 2016 through Dec. 31, 2017,” NDC executive director Frank Liebl said.

The breakdown of funding has the corporation asking for $42,500 for July 1, 2016 through Dec. 31, 2016 and $85,000 for the 2017 calendar year.

Newton Convention and Visitors Bureau

Newton Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Linda Bacon touched on several events that occurred in Newton in the past year including a customer service workshop, Miss Iowa/Miss Teen Iowa pageant and a variety of motor coach tours that made stops in Newton along their way.

She said the most effective marketing event the CVB participated in was a booth at the Iowa State Fair which brought an additional 3,000 names of those interested in Newton.

A new tool the CVB utilized at the pageant this year was a survey that asked a variety of questions about why the spectator was visiting Newton, how they found out about Newton and where they were staying in town, along other questions. The feedback will be used in future marketing efforts to target the appropriate audiences and to start efforts to bring amenities to the city tourist suggest.

For budgeting, the request remained similar to previous years with 50 percent of the hotel/motel tax. They are requesting that the $150,000 cap be lifted from tax to receive any monies earned above $150,000 should that be more than 50 percent.

Finally, the CVB has a big event of its own in 2016.

“We will be celebrating the Newton Convention and Visitors Bureau’s 20th anniversary this year,” Bacon said.

Newton Housing Development Corporation

NHDC President Jennifer Cook spoke about the accomplishments of the organization during the 2015 year including Ground Breaker Homes agreeing to build five new homes in Fairmeadows North housing development and the start of the First Avenue Improvement Program which is targeting exterior rehab efforts for interested homes on First Avenue.

In the coming year, NHDC plans to continue its marking efforts of Newton through a booth at the Des Moines Home and Garden Show, continued coverage and updates of current projects on social media and a revamp of the corporation’s website to make it more user friendly and modern.

It also hopes to work with the city to market and sell the remaining lots that were a part of the D&D program. Along with Newton Main Street it will promote second story housing downtown.

Future projects on NHDC’s radar include promoting a Commercial D&D program that could possibly make more room for multi-family or student housing.

NHDC is requesting $37,500 for the second half of 2016 and $50,000 for 2017, totaling $87,500. The corporation is hoping to fund a full-time director in the coming year for the first time to have a person fully committed and educated on the work of the NHDC.

Newton Main Street

During the past year, Newton Main Street has been busy with many first time events and continuing popular events from its first year. Most recognizable was the return of the Newton Farmers’ Market back to the downtown area. Executive director Andrew Bassman said he was told by one business owner that sales had gone up by $100 every Tuesday during the market season.

Other new events included the Commercial Open House, Downtown Mini Golf, Second Story Housing Tour and Cash Mob. Back for a second year was the Magnetic Main Street fundraiser and a new project the organization accomplished was a pocket park located north of the square by the library.

Main Street is under contract with the city through the next year as a part of the initial application to become a Main Street community at a cost of $25,000.

Discussions on funding for each stakeholder will continue when it is placed on the agenda for the Dec. 7 council meeting.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com