The City Council’s Committee of the Whole approved the following (see the report and watch the meeting video; see also Fig City News report of the meeting):
- Mayoral Listening Session: Council Priorities for the FY2026 Budget
- Discussion focused on the City of Newton’s financial processes, revenue sources, and expenditure breakdown. Mayor Ruthanne Fuller highlighted that 83% of the city’s revenue comes from property taxes, with the remainder from other sources. The budgeting approach is designed to match recurring revenue with recurring expenses and one-time funds with one-time expenditures.
- Key financial challenges were identified, including potential decreases in federal funding and the impact on departmental budgets. Concerns were also raised about the sustainability of funding for school lunches and the reliance of the Planning Department on CDBG funding amid Newton’s status as a Sanctuary City.
- Councilors raised various priorities, including funding for schools, traffic calming measures, playgrounds, and economic development. There was also support for solar investments to reduce city operational costs and a call for greater council involvement in discussions about the City Clerk’s Office.
Present: Councilors Humphrey, Lucas, Malakie, Albright, Leary, Downs, Laredo, Lipof, Greenberg, Kelley, Grossman, Bixby, Krintzman, Danberg, Wright, Baker, Farrell, and Block
Absent: Councilors Gentile, Oliver, Micley, Getz, Lobovits, and Kalis
