he Newton City Council set a public hearing date of March 4 for approval of the city budget that will not include the Emergency Levy.

The council met Jan. 28 to discuss the city’s budget. They decided to reject the introduction of the Emergency Levy at its suggested rate. It would have introduced approximately $120,000 to the budget, but the council voted to investigate the possibility of introducing it at a lower rate. The lower rate would have produced $90,000, but staff did not recommend it, as it was not needed. One of the only proposed changes was to increase the ending tax levy by 15 cents.

The reduction of the initial budget allowed the city to save more than $60,000. One of biggest projects effected by the reduction is the audio/video equipment in Newton City Hall. The initial budget was $80,000, and the council decided to reduce it to $25,000.