For the decades, the Newton City Council has made tremendous improvements and upgrades to Newton's infrastructure as well as providing Newton residents with additional recreational amenities and services. Under the leadership of Mayors Charles Glover, David Hines and present Mayor, Rachel Martin, City Administrator Donnie Meek and the support of the Newton City Council, Newton has moved decisively into the new millennium complete with short and long range goals that will further enhance the lifestyles of Newton residents and enable the City to be in a great position to attract new business and industry.

Infrastructure improvements include paving and repaving of local roads, sidewalk repair and new sidewalk construction, water-gas-sewer line replacement, upgrade of the Water Treatment Facility, additional water pump and sewer lift stations, replacement of unreliable and "maintenance costly" old city vehicles and equipment, upgrades to the primary electrical service and transformers, computerization City Hall records and billing for lower overhead and administration cost, added additional Police vehicles and personnel and initiated the establishment of the Newton Economic Development Corporation and Newton Community Development Corporation to provide financial assistance to businesses and civic organization projects.

All these past and continuing improvements and upgrades have been provided to the citizens of Newton while incurring little debt or bond service. In fact, the City of Newton's Balance Sheet and Budget could serve as a benchmark for other cities that provide fewer quality services with larger debt obligations. "Working Together For The Benefit Of All" is a motto that the City of Newton government and administration strives for on a daily basis!

NEWTON TEXAS ECONOMIC INCENTIVES

NEWTON ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS
The City of Newton is aggressive in assisting existing businesses and potential new businesses. In 1994, the Newton Economic Development Corporation and the Newton Community Development Corporation were formed. These two entities, administered by local citizen Directors as well as the Newton City Council, were created to provide funding and other assistance to new and existing businesses.

Each Corporation, commonly referred to as NEDC and NCDC, are funded by a voter approved 1/2 cent addition to the State Sales Tax on services and products produced or sold within the taxing jurisdiction of the City of Newton. Each Board has four Directors and one Chairman. In addition, the daily operation of each Corporation is managed by Donnie Meek, the Administrator for the City of Newton. All assistance requests are directed to Mr. Meek initially and he reviews the business operation and develops an analysis relating to the businesses' potential economical impact to the City of Newton and it's residents.

New and existing businesses requesting economic assistance have discovered that working with the City of Newton is easier and more timely than many other larger communities. The economic assistance request package is moved through promptly and with an earnest desire to help that business in it's efforts to move to Newton or expand their present inventories, equipment and payroll.

TEXAS CAPITAL FUND INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM
This program provides grants for the construction of first-time public infrastructure projects incidental to an incoming business or a business expansion. Eligible projects include water, sewer, streets, gas lines, drainage, treatment facilities, landfills, railroad spurs, traffic signals, dredging of harbors or channels, telecommunications and electric lines, and acquisition of real estate for infrastructure.

TEXAS CAPITAL FUND REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
This program provides funding to qualified communities to construct, acquire, or rehabilitate real estate so that it may be leased to a company. Awards range from $50,000 to $500,000.

TEXAS MANUFACTURING ASSISTANCE CENTER (TMAC)
TMAC was designed to help Texas small manufacturing companies remain competitive in the ever changing global marketplace. The TMAC Center provides technical assistance at a discounted rate for process improvement, environmental regulations upgrades, changes in technology and the marketplace.

TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Provides financial assistance through loan guarantees for businesses that are engaged in innovative, diversified or value-added production, processing, marketing or exporting of an agricultural product. The program provides a guaranty of up to 90 percent of the production, processing, marketing or exporting of an agricultural product. The program provides a guaranty of up to 90 percent of the loan amount to an eligible lender. Funds may be used for working capital, equipment, real estate and/or improvements and inventory. Guaranties range from $30,000 to $5 million.

TAFA LINKED DEPOSIT
Provides low interest rate loans through approved lenders for individuals or businesses in Texas that process and market agricultural crops or livestock; produce alternative crops; produce alternative crops using water conservation equipment for ag production purposes. The funds may be used to purchase land, machinery, equipment, seed, fertilizer, plants, inventory or professional services. The low interest rates for production loans may be applied up to $250,000 and up to $500,000 for processing and marketing loans.

RURAL ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
The Business and Industry Loan program provides loans from $1 million to $10 million for business and industrial acquisitions; land purchase, machinery and equipment, construction, enlargement, or modernization; pollution control or abatement; working capital; and refinancing when necessary to save jobs. The project must be located in a city with less than 50,000 in population and priority is given to projects in cities of less than 25,000. There is no requirement the business be related to agriculture. Manufacturing, retail, wholesale and services are eligible.

SBA FINANCE PROGRAMS
This program provides fixed asset financing at below-market fixed rates of interest. The loan may be used to acquire land, construct buildings, purchase land, buildings, machinery and equipment. The 504 loan is coordinated between the SBA and a private lender with the lender covering 50 percent of the project and the SBA 40 percent and the borrower 10 percent. The maximum participation by the SBA is $1 million.

SBA 7(a) PROGRAM
The 7(a) program guarantees commercial lending institutions up to 80% for loans under $100,000 and up to 75% for loans over this amount and up to $750,000. Funds can be used to finance working capital, fixed asset acquisition, including land, buildings and equipment.

SPA LOW DOC PROGRAM
The Low Doc program was designed to simplify the SEA application process and shorten the processing time for smaller loans. To be eligible a business must have 100 or fewer employees; and annual sales for the past three years must be less than $5 million. The maximum loan amount is $100,000.

LOCATION
Newton is located 70 miles northeast of Beaumont, 150 miles northeast of Houston, 245 miles southeast of Dallas, and 280 miles northeast of Austin. It is the county seat of Newton County.

MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Type of local government: Mayor/Council/Manager
Annual budget: $4,300,000
Bonded indebtedness: $1,800,000
City: G.O.: $None
Water rev: $200,000
County: $None
School: $None
Fire insurance class: .40 in city outside
Number of pumpers/trucks: 3
Number of full-time firemen: 0   EMT trained:
Number of volunteer firemen: 23    EMT trained: 5
Number of full-time city policemen: 3
Garbage service provided: City of Newton
Nearest landfill for comm./ind. use: Deweyville (South Newton County)
Landfill under construction in Deweyville area.
Public library: Yes Volumes: 16,000
Planning Commission: No
City zoning: No

UTILITIES
Water
Supplied by: City of Newton
Groundwater: Yes Surfacewater: No
Source: Wells
Capacity of water plant: 1,152,000 gpd
Average daily consumption: 250,000 gpd
Peak consumption:
Storage capacity: .416 mg
Ground: .216 mg      Elevated: .2 mg
Pressure in mains: 60 lbs.

SEWER
Type of treatment plant: Oxidation
Percent of community served by sewer: 90%
Average daily load: .32 mgpd
Design capacity: .980 mgd

ELECTRIC SERVICE
City of Newton & Jasper/Newton Electric Coop

NATURAL GAS SERVICE
City of Newton

TELEPHONE SERVICE
Valor Telecommunications
Digital: Yes    Analog: Yes    ElectroMechanical: No
Fiber optics: Yes     Switched 56 KBPS: No    911: Yes-ANI
High capacity digital (T-1): Yes     Digital data service: Yes
Make/Model/Software level: DCO-19.0
Long distance companies: Numerous

CLIMATE
Average annual temperature: 67 degrees
Monthly average high temperature: 93 degrees
Monthly average low temperature: 40 degrees
Average annual rainfall: 56 inches
Elevation: 187' above sea level

TRANSPORTATION
Interstate within city limits: No
Distance to nearest Interstate: 53 miles
Interstate: I-10
U.S. Hwy.: 190
State Hwy.: 87

BUS LINES
Greyhound - Trailways; Southeast Texas Transit

RAIL
Name of railroad(s)
Santa Fe
Switching service: Yes
Piggyback service: Yes

BARGE TRANSPORTATION
Nearest Port Facility: Port of Orange, 30 feet deep

MOTOR FREIGHT
Red Ball Motor Freight, Central Freight - Tex Pack

AIR TRANSPORTATION
Nearest commercial airport: Jefferson County Airport
Distance: 80 miles
Name of airlines serving airport: Delta, Conquest, Continental Express,

Nearest general aviation airport: Municipal Airport
Distance: 3 miles
Type of runway: Asphalt
Length of runway: 4,000 feet
Landing strip lighted: Yes
Instrument landing system: No
Private aircraft storage available: Yes
Private aircraft maintenance available: No

SERVICES
Machine shops: Yes     Number: 2
Tool & die service: Yes
If no, distance to nearest service: 70 miles
Electric motor repair: No
If no, distance to nearest service: 15 miles
Type of newspaper(s) in city: Daily and Weekly
Number of radio station(s): 2
Number of Antenna TV channels received: 3    Cable TV: Yes
Seating capacity of largest banquet room: 350
Number of banks in city: 2
Total assets: $90,000,000

HEALTH CARE
Number of hospitals: 0
IDistance to nearest hospital:  Jasper, TX
Number of nursing homes in community: 1
Number of clinics available: 3
Medical personnel:
MD(s): 4      DVM(s): 4
PA(s): 2      Dentist(s): 1

REAL ESTATE & CHURCHES
Number of dwellings: 831   Owner occupied: 461
Residential housing cost per sq. ft.: $50
Lot costs: $1,000
No. of rental housing available: 228     Cost: $350
Rental apartments available: 10     Cost: $350-500
Churches: 45 total churches

POPULATION

The Newton Independent School District, with all three campuses located in within the City of Newton, serves a rural population of nearly 1400 students and covers over 385 square miles. Good ethnic relations abound in this community that offers a diverse cultural blend.  In 2003, the entire District was awarded Exemplary status by the Texas Education Agency!

Two new campuses were built during the past 5 years. The modern and efficient Middle School was built on the High School Campus area. Utilizing concrete masonry block and steel, this energy efficient facility offers technically advanced classrooms, cafeteria, offices and gymnasium.

The new Elementary School, completed in 2001, replaces the wood-frame school that burned to the ground on Thanksgiving night, 1998. Again, the same type of fire-resistant and mechanically efficient structure was built providing students with a modern environment while slashing maintenance and utility costs drastically as compared with the old structure it replaced.

Improvements to all campuses continued in 1999 through 2001. The High School football stadium playing field was re-graded for proper water drainage, new rubberized track was installed, new roofing was placed over the High School gym and new boy's baseball and girl's softball complex became a reality in the spring of 2001. Tennis Courts were constructed in 2002 and serve the students as well as the general public.

Our students now have modern and efficient facilities that other "like-size" communities only dream of. And the cost? Well, the local voters approved bond issuance, administration worked hand-in-hand with architects and contractors to deliver facilities at or below budget. The additional cost to taxpayers was just a few cents higher per $100 valuation and Newton I.S.D. still maintains one of the lowest property tax rates in the State! Good planning, a community dedicated to quality education of it's youth and School Board Trustees that insist on getting the taxpayers' their "dollars worth" has resulted in a School District it's citizens can be proud of.

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

Gene Isabell, Superintendent

Johnny Metz, Principal
Newton High School

Julia House, Principal
Newton Middle School

Michelle Barrow, Principal
Newton Elementary School

Sherrie Leach, Asst. Superintendent
Curriculum and Technology

Denise Hilton, Director
Special Education


414 North Main Street
Newton, Texas 75966
Phone: (409) 379-8137
FAX: (409) 379-8187