Aldermen Approve FY 2014 City Budget

Newton has an approved Fiscal Year 2014 budget.

The Newton Board of Aldermen Monday night voted 22-0 to approve Mayor Setti Warren's $331 million FY14 budget.

The approved budget includes $188 million for Newton Public Schools and represents an overall $13.4 million increase over the FY13 budget.

"I am thankful to the members of the board of aldermen for their partnership,” Mayor Warren said Monday night. "This budget represents three-and-a-half years of work together to get our fiscal house in order, and build upon priorities such as excellence in education, unparalleled public safety, and improved capital infrastructure.”

The budget also reflects Newton voters' support of Warren's $11.4 million override package, on which they voted in the March 12 election. The three ballot questions provided for a variety of services and items including teacher salaries to handle increased student enrollment, expansion at Zervas Elementary School, four new police officers, street/sidewalk repairs, relocation of the Newton Fire Department Wires Division, the rebuilding of Fire Headquarters and Fire Station 3 in Newton Centre, and the rebuilding/renovation of Angier Elementary School and Cabot Elementary School.

According to Chief Financial Officer Maureen Lemieux, with the passage of the override the average Newton resident's tax bill will increase about $.50 for every $1,000 valuation of a home. That amounts to an average of $343 per year, based on Newton's median home price of $686,000.

Lemieux said the estimated commericial rate increase is about $.96 per $1,000. The official tax rates will not be set until this fall, she added.

Warren's full budget book is available on the city's website.