If you ask anyone currently on the Newton Illinois city council what the goal of all the taxing,
borrowing, spending and hundreds of pages of new rules and regulations is and every one
of them will tell you for Economic Development,Quality of Life, and to retain more of the
young people and grow the city.

This tax all you can, borrow all you can, spend all you can and regulate all you can policy
has been in effect since 2005.

By any way that you measure it that policy has been a total failure. What has happened is
that Newton has  became a expensive place to live and has basically priced themselves out
of the market to obtain new industry and the jobs that go with it.

While Newton does have some really nice things they were purchased at a high price, that
being the high cost of doing business here makes it very hard to attract industry.

Since 2005

The south town Industrial park after spending millions of taxpayer dollars has created 0 jobs.

Alco store is empty.

GSI is no longer manufacturing in Newton.

City Of Newton Property Taxes have Increased at 3 times the rate that property values have.

City of Newton Property Values  have increased at about 1/2 the rate of  inflation.

Population has decreased from 3095 to 2814, projected to be 2749 in 2018*

Owner Occupied housing has decreased from 65% to 62%*

Total Housing units have decreased from 1499 to 1364*
While Vacant Housing units have increased from 10.7% to 12.6%*
This translates to 870 owner occupied housing units in 2005 to 739 owner occupied housing units
now.

The median age of residents has increased from 41.7 to 42.3*

*Source  of Newton Comprehensive plan projections, available in part on the City of Newton official
site here

The city of Newton is in a hole and the first thing to do when you are in a hole is to quit digging not
get a bigger shovel.
Abandoned buildings in Southtown Industrial Park
GSI Manufacturing Facility now used as a warehouse