Newton’s taxes are outrageous. We tax like crazy, our city property tax levy rate is only topped by four other cities in Iowa. The average for cities in Iowa with a population over 10,000 is $14.12, we are at $17.15. Our aggregate property tax rate is $42.40 in Newton. Both of these numbers are alarming.
If you travel 30 minutes to the south you can enjoy an aggregate tax of only $33.01 in Pella, or travel 25 miles to the west and you can be in Altoona with only a $9.94 city property tax levy. I will echo recent letters to the editor and say the spending is atrocious in this community. With a population that has not increased in 50 years, maybe lowering the taxes would help?
Ben Miller
Newton