Newton – Week of July 24, 2025

Harvey County Sets Maximum Budget, Signals Potential Tax Hike

Newton Advances Budget Focused on Employee Pay, Infrastructure

Newton Delays Hotel Incentive Plan to Include Redevelopment

Flooding Forces Closure of Two Harvey County Bridges

Downtown Revitalization: City to Demolish 320 N. Main

1. Harvey County Sets Maximum Budget, Signals Potential Tax Hike

HARVEY COUNTY, Kan. – The Harvey County Commission has taken a critical step in its 2026 budget process by setting a maximum tax levy of $19,255,616. This proposed budget would establish a tax rate of 45.339 mills, representing an increase of approximately 1.75 mills over the previous year. While commissioners noted the levy can be lowered before final adoption, it cannot be increased beyond this point without a new public notification. A public hearing for residents to comment on the budget and the county’s intent to exceed the “revenue-neutral” rate is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on August 26.

2. Newton Advances Budget Focused on Employee Pay, Infrastructure

NEWTON, Kan. – The Newton City Commission has set its maximum expenditure authority for the 2026 budget at $62,775,028, paving the way for public review. Key priorities in the proposed budget include implementing a comprehensive salary study to ensure city employee wages are competitive at the 60th percentile of the market. Additionally, the budget proposes increasing the city’s building-maintenance reserve fund to $151,000 annually to better care for aging infrastructure. The city will hold a public hearing on its budget and its plan to exceed the revenue-neutral rate at 7:00 p.m. on August 26.

3. Newton Delays Hotel Incentive Plan to Include Redevelopment

NEWTON, Kan. – A proposal to create a standard incentive package for new hotel developers was put on hold by the Newton City Commission after discussion about the city’s existing hotel properties. While staff presented a potential framework that included industrial revenue bonds, a Community Improvement District, and a transient guest-tax rebate, a commissioner argued that the city should also focus on creating incentives to “redevelop existing hotel properties.” The commission directed staff to develop a proposal for the existing hotels and package it with the new-development plan, bringing both back for consideration at a future meeting.

4. Flooding Forces Closure of Two Harvey County Bridges

HARVEY COUNTY, Kan. – Recent high water has caused significant damage to Harvey County’s infrastructure, forcing the closure of two bridges. A bridge on Southwest 48th remains closed, and a second bridge on Southwest 60th, just east of South Emma Creek, was closed after debris caused severe damage. The 1935-era bridge on SW 60th had three pilings “badly damaged and basically removed from a pier.” The county intends to pursue repairs on both structures and is working with the Little Arkansas River Drainage District to clear debris so engineers can fully assess the damage.

5. Downtown Revitalization: City to Demolish 320 N. Main

NEWTON, Kan. – As a major step in its downtown-revitalization strategy, the Newton City Commission has approved putting out a request for proposals to demolish the building at 320 North Main. This decision aligns with the city’s strategic goal of making key investments in the downtown area. City leaders expressed excitement about demolishing the structure to explore what new development would “best serve our community in this very, very key location.”

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Contact: greg@citizenjournal.us