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Newton boys’ relay team places at ISU indoor meet / 1B
DAILY NEWS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017 • WHERE TO GO WHEN YOU NEED TO KNOW
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Supervisors hear about Red Bridge efforts By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News
Justin Jagler/Daily News Next year’s budget and tax rate were the topics of lengthy discussion at Monday’s school board meeting. A public hearing on the budget was set for 6:45 p.m. on April 10 at the EJH Beard Administration Center.
NCSD School Board discusses 2018 budget, tax rate By Justin Jagler Newton Daily News The Newton Community School District’s proposed budget for 2018 took center stage during much of Monday’s board meeting. The board shared ideas and considered different options during a lengthy discussion led by Director of Business Services Gayle Isaac. As it currently stands, the total proposed budget for 2018 adds up to about $73.1 million. The general fund accounts for more than $31 million, and of that, more than $21 million is proposed for instruction in the classroom. Other general fund expenses include administration, maintenance and student transportation. The total budget in 2016 was about $27 million less than the proposed budget for 2018. This
seemingly large spike is the result of costs for the new Berg Middle School. Budget distributions for the general fund have remained relatively constant over the last several years. The proposed instructional support income surtax rate is 7 percent, up from the current rate of 5 percent. Under the new proposal, the property tax rate will see a slight decrease. The current rate is $15.76 per $1,000 of taxable value, and the proposed rate for 2018 is $15.74. Board member Josh Cantu said one of the things the board discussed when looking at taxes and talking to community members was keeping a mostly steady tax rate. Board President Travis Padget reiterated that line of thinking. He said it is about taking care of the school district but also being fiscally responsible for community members and business
owners. The proposed budget includes a cash reserve levy of $300,000. This money would be used to help pay the district’s bills during the summer months of July and August when Department of Education funds are not coming in, Isaac said. Even though there is no school during these months, the district still has expenses like custodial staff, utility bills and buses for summer sports. There are also maintenance projects expected in the summer. The $300,000 would provide the district with a cushion, Isaac said. The district’s spending authority is about $4.7 million. However, NCSD’s fund balance will sit at an estimated $1.6 million by the end of this year, according to Isaac. The fund balance is essentially the amount of BUDGET | 3A
Colfax native Joe Otto brought his cause of saving the Red Bridge to the Jasper County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. The bridge, located about 4.5 miles northeast of Monroe, currently spans the South Skunk River but Otto is working to move it to Quarry Springs Park in Colfax. “The bridge itself is literally about to fall into the river. Since the bridge was closed to traffic, the floods have taken out the approaches,” Otto said. “Give me a chance to try to not let that happen. I may fail but I am going to try my best to find a way to not
let that fall into the river, if the county will allow me to try.” Otto is not currently asking for any support or funds from the county in his efforts to move the bridge. He did say in the future he will probably be back for one if not both of those things. “I would not expect the county to pay for this entirely, however, if I ever did come ask for a resolution to be passed, there is a dollar amount attached to demolishing the bridge,” Otto said. “I don’t know what it is and whatever that figure is, I would respectfully ask that the money be put toward some sort of protection plan.” BRIDGE | 3A
Jamee A. Pierson/Daily News Colfax native Joe Otto talks to the Jasper County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday about his efforts to save Red Bridge, a historical high truss bridge located near Reasnor.
Jasper County Take Away Hunger seeks volunteers More than 200,000 meals used statewide last year By Kayla Langmaid Newton Daily News Volunteers with Jasper County Take Away Hunger have their work cut out for them yet again this month as they are set to package food for those in need locally and globally. Founder of the first packaging distribution center in Iowa, Dan Fields of Mt. Pleasant, said volunteers work to package meals three times a year, both international and domestic meals. This month, volunteers will meet on March
25 at Lynnville Friends Church. “We are working with 20 outreach centers in the state of Iowa,” Fields said. “We cover a large portion of the state, and last year we sent over 3 million meals over seas and a little over 200,000 here in Iowa.” Fields said the organization has seen volunteers in Jasper County for about eight years. “It’s a mobile event where they bring all the products to different churches and they have their own equipment,” Fields said. “We’re real-
Submitted Photo Volunteers package food for those in need during the Jasper County Take Away Hunger event last year. The event this month will take place on March 25 at Lynnville Friends Church.
ly glad they’re part of the team and we look forward to every event they do.” After the meals are packaged, they are
brought back to a warehouse and office complex in Mt. Pleasant. There, they are put on pallets and they are sent out to
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WHERE IT’S AT Astrograph......................5B Calendar..........................5A Classifieds......................4B
various locations in Iowa. If there isn’t an immediate need in Iowa, then they are sent over seas. “What we find in
smaller communities across the state is they have become fragmented and this gives them the opportunity to reach out to other churches and challenges them to get involved and bring a team of 12 to the packaging event,” Fields said. “For an hour they stand there and talk, they interact and we are watching it bring solidarity back to a lot of the communities.” Fields said the goal of Take Away Hunger is to reach people who are coming into outreach centers in need. “We have a huge problem right here in our own state, especially in our schools,” Fields said. “One out of 5 kids go home on the weekends and don’t have any food.”
Comics & Puzzles...........6A Dear Abby........................6A Local News......................2A
Obituaries.......................5A Opinion............................4A State News......................7A
The Way to give Blessing Bags
Newton church to help those in need / 2A
Volume No. 115 No. 209 2 sections 12 pages
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