Council sets budget target for library

To make sure the Newton Public Library Board of Trustees continues practicing sustainable budget practices, the city council on July 19 formally approved a motion setting the library’s annual expenditures budget target to $669,306 — not including donations — for fiscal year 2023.

In the past few years, the Newton Public Library has been forced to make a number of budget cuts.

Newton City Administrator Matt Muckler said in August 2020 the library’s spending “appears to be excessive in terms of both salary and non-salary expenditures when compared to every other department and division in the city and comparable libraries.”

The City of Newton claims the library used the highest percentage of general fund property taxes of any comparable city, citing expenses in annual financial reports in FY18. Since then, recommendations have been made to bring the library’s spending more in line with similar communities.

According to city documents, this was accomplished with the FY22 budget.

The FY23 budget target of $669,306 is the same as what was budgeted in FY22.

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com