[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6274431,"mediaKeyId","2990454-83e4b90ac01db01957c5f06b97ad5d3c","parentId",2990454,"title","Local youth and community organizations request funding as county considers reopening Nelson Heights center and expanding summer programs","audioSeconds",10124,"startMs",168000,"endMs",10292000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2990454-83e4b90ac01db01957c5f06b97ad5d3c&start=168&end=10292","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2990454-83e4b90ac01db01957c5f06b97ad5d3c/thumbnail_168000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6274431/Newton-County/Georgia/Local-youth-and-community-organizations-request-funding-as-county-considers-reopening-Nelson-Heights-center-and-expanding-summer-programs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6274431-99137d9f2cf01df30151cd485d6ad5d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770441425&Signature=HYDdgHdUoTt6mCrRcACbdYzg3Uebkjj~LXNS-feNxpYQTL3I-squ-gdZbFh6lVs0rSGFiTdpz2qZ1GnG11GbvN6Ok8RG4Z47KMICUskpFeytJ-OfOnTQ8J9oQWHj-32cV4GDZvtZ3B5oL-CsGQE2dw2D0VylIAJYdKSKgjkCxZtd3jnGMVFNBMGb7fbwUt1B8WUEFKjeT~5GgNfhHWT3~K9C6~ogLQlCTtZFR~mPx0VBlfM5XkQwKQc7m~2QCanhv5azfahufqF3oyRF1zIQPjFPdi65ZEC7qgInEVs-YraIJzGtdryzePoDHDRJGLhRglrJcd61Dfx3Ba6vILsT5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-15T09:52:12.017Z","article","Multiple nonprofit and community organizations outlined FY26 appropriation requests and program plans focused on children, families and neighborhood services during the county appropriation workshop.

Alcovy CASA director Lindsay Dicus thanked commissioners for long-standing support and confirmed the group's FY26 request of $15,666, unchanged from the prior two years. Dicus described CASA's role advocating for children in foster care and asked commissioners if they had questions about the organization's application.

McIntosh Trail Head Start manager Cassandra Brooks requested $4,147 (same as FY25) for portable play equipment across three playgrounds and described Head Start's service model, which serves birth through age 5 at no parental fee; Brooks said the program is federally funded for about 80% of needs and relies on community donations and local support for the remainder. Commissioners praised the program as an important early-childhood asset.

Washington Street Community Center leaders asked for a $55,000 appropriation (a $10,200 increase over FY25) to expand literacy-focused after-school programming, STEM offerings and summer camps for children ages 5 to 13. Executive Director Brenda (presented as the organization's representative) and board members said the center has focused on reading recovery after COVID-era learning losses and reported local partnerships (school system, Piedmont Newton, community nonprofits) for programming and transportation support.

Darnell Taylor, executive director of the TaylorMade Foundation, described a 38-week after-school and six-week summer enrichment program for middle and high-school students and requested larger funding if TaylorMade were asked to manage Nelson Heights Community Center. Taylor said the organization currently operates at Washington Street for older students (grades 6'12) and proposed a phased plan for Nelson Heights that would add adult education, job-readiness, financial literacy and senior programming. Taylor said the standard external appropriation cap is $2,500 but requested consideration of a larger annual nonprofit allocation (an illustrative $39,000 figure was cited for operating Nelson Heights under nonprofit management).

Deputy Tim Smith, representing the Newton County Sheriff's Office and Sheriff Ezell Brown, described a county-collaborative summer \"law and leadership academy\" for grades 6'12 planned with school and municipal partners and said the sheriff's office is supporting transportation and program logistics. Commissioners indicated willingness to discuss the Nelson Heights reopening, county-operated vs. nonprofit-run management and measurement of program performance.

Ending: Commissioners asked staff and stakeholders to follow up with written proposals and to hold a meeting to discuss Nelson Heights management, program metrics and budget implications prior to finalizing FY26 appropriations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BOC FY26 Budget Appropriations Presentations I April 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Presentations from Alcovy CASA, McIntosh Trail Head Start, Washington Street Community Center, TaylorMade Foundation and related partners described FY26 requests and plans to expand after-school, literacy, STEM and summer-camp programming, including a sheriff-supported countywide summer academy proposal tied to Nelson Heights reopening.","taxTitle","Newton County, Georgia","taxId",28541,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6274437,"Newton County DFACS highlights caseload growth and staffing limits during appropriation briefing",321,391000,712000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2990454-83e4b90ac01db01957c5f06b97ad5d3c&start=391&end=712","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2990454-83e4b90ac01db01957c5f06b97ad5d3c/thumbnail_391000.jpg","/articles/6274437/Newton-County/Georgia/Newton-County-DFACS-highlights-caseload-growth-and-staffing-limits-during-appropriation-briefing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6274437-def11be87e692d5249f5875c401a14ca/orig.mp4?Expires=1770441425&Signature=AP2ZUafm7OXRKVL0Icx9FOqe7etIuN8DaqJjz~mXRIy17KWlMXi7cFQ7IHZNMm~WxtWIKscwiJMF6ktnFjaRCj9Ppj-MUqN9lm6XDk8zODjlHulJSafoI5DPSmcZbNQ5qwQt0T84hYX08ZcY8bt5ft9bI1M-Ho-4p346f9DkPQ54kfxoe9kxundJXjnpbPV6zKctdLTcKwHaYonYAT5y0meLF55hzDzhS0cBHH1L2kJyizsGAkIK45pyzyP5iEXZaXdO5Lmp-32cN1qzdcC01lYq5sfDNuzzYM7WYz~SHmjDyuE2VRriTQuOg-ZVOHoPcKWwnB8uipIGtoTrKdFJiw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kenya Wooden, county director for Newton County DFACS, presented caseload and staffing data to the Board of Commissioners during the FY26 appropriation workshop and urged continued county support to retain staff and serve families.

Wooden said recent February data showed 91 active TANF clients in Newton County versus 405 in neighboring Rockdale County and that monthly cash benefits reflected the larger caseload. She said Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) active clients in Newton County numbered about 20,261 and that the state distributed roughly $4.29 million for SNAP support in Newton County during the period referenced. Wooden also described the agency's social-services caseload breakdown: 78 children in foster care currently served by four case managers, two case managers handling CPS investigations with roughly 58 cases, and family preservation caseloads of about 31. She stressed the office operates with eight case managers overall and that on-call rotations mean those staff frequently work extended periods.

Wooden described improved retention compared with earlier years: staff tenure has lengthened with several case managers now in their second to fourth years, whereas the office previously experienced high turnover. She said county supplements help retain staff and that the office fields urgent weekend work and 24/7 on-call responsibilities.

Commissioners thanked Wooden for the work and expressed appreciation. The presentation concluded with no formal motions; commissioners noted the DFACS data will be considered in the FY26 budgeting process.

Ending: Wooden asked the commission to factor caseload growth and limited case-manager capacity into budget deliberations; DFACS offered to furnish audits and additional financial materials on request.","Kenya Wooden, Newton County DFACS county director, told commissioners caseloads for TANF, SNAP and child-welfare services have grown while the office operates with eight case managers; she asked commissioners to consider continued funding support that helps staff retention.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6274442,"County health providers seek level funding and partial restorations as public-health demand rises",6454,761000,7215000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2990454-83e4b90ac01db01957c5f06b97ad5d3c&start=761&end=7215","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2990454-83e4b90ac01db01957c5f06b97ad5d3c/thumbnail_761000.jpg","/articles/6274442/Newton-County/Georgia/County-health-providers-seek-level-funding-and-partial-restorations-as-public-health-demand-rises","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6274442-d34103f1d69b5232a3d0d0b504a57511/orig.mp4?Expires=1770441425&Signature=bLuJLyt4MRcdl3BTUyzDfRgHKyryj2Z5qgIa1PLXcLsU7JSW49tu7aeKJ2L4pNJDPlEVKI3tsfel53WgqjZqUw51Cau3-q2~hyPTpKyRx82d9FB-DKp0rbIjq1G3xNhFmtDHRLB8YYBens9ZCspivDqE4LaBfvWnmvei2kWulcM5v7zmqMacUygKZ4VGZ7qpGol5yiUF1~~UFapEV0~u3OiaekUkoMSQSOu0Vu5S6ASgEzvHlntikl3HS7EoUcTZKiNsOdqcdMQIyOYYucxNSPZwJi9SqOUDNv~OuvSsan3wJjTYfmcO-9cXbrCsqbWmf2kxwUSzhTyZU7pcQeL6yw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives of the Newton County Health Department, the regional behavioral-health board Viewpoint Health, and the volunteer-supported Willing Helpers Medical Clinic briefed county commissioners on FY26 funding requests and service pressures.

Joseph Sternberg, chief operating officer for the county health department, asked for level funding of $187,550, the same request as FY25, and described the department's use of the money to support clinical and environmental health staff. Sternberg said the department performed about 6,500 patient visits in the previous nine months and emphasized environmental health work that prevents restaurant and septic-related health hazards. Sternberg also said environmental health staffing has returned to pre-recession levels after many layoffs and that environmental health clinics are staffed by Newton employees rather than a district pool (though WIC is administered at the lead-county level).

Eric Norton, chief financial officer for Viewpoint Health, requested $254,282 for FY26, an increase of $19,962 over the prior year, and asked the county to restore the agency's funding to FY17 levels. Norton described Viewpoint as a safety-net behavioral-health provider serving about 1,900 Newton County residents in 2024 with outpatient care and said funding contributed to the facility's detox unit. He reported the detox unit expanded from eight to ten beds since opening in 2023 and thanked commissioners for past one-time or ongoing support for capital and program work.

Christine Boggs, executive director of Willing Helpers Medical Clinic, outlined the free clinic's services for uninsured patients below 200% of the federal poverty level and described rapid growth in demand: roughly 654 active patients, 10–15 new applications per week and nearly half of current patients reporting no income. Boggs said the clinic provided about 1,900 medical visits in 2024, 4,000 prescriptions, and specialist referrals and valued free care at roughly $3.4 million in 2024. The clinic is developing an in-house dental program to reduce preventable ER visits and asked for county partnership to maintain operations as local provider capacity is stretched.

Commissioners asked operational questions about staffing and turnaround times; Sternberg said environmental health permit turnaround from a completed application to permit issuance is typically under a week and that the district looks at fee schedules periodically. Viewpoint and the clinic said county support helps maintain local access to specialty services and crisis stabilization.

Ending: Presenters asked the commission to consider level funding for the health department and to restore or increase appropriations to behavioral-health and free-clinic partners as the county balances rising demand and public-health capacity constraints.","Newton County Health Department, Viewpoint Health and the Willing Helpers free clinic presented FY26 appropriation requests and service data; presenters cited rising demand, staffing constraints and the role of county support in maintaining clinics and a new detox unit.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6274447,"Newton County economic development officials highlight rising tax digest, Staunton Springs returns and Highway 278 CID projects",1633,1502000,3135000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2990454-83e4b90ac01db01957c5f06b97ad5d3c&start=1502&end=3135","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2990454-83e4b90ac01db01957c5f06b97ad5d3c/thumbnail_1502000.jpg","/articles/6274447/Newton-County/Georgia/Newton-County-economic-development-officials-highlight-rising-tax-digest-Staunton-Springs-returns-and-Highway-278-CID-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6274447-92c71ffaf25ec5098992066ef1b7c6e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770441425&Signature=PB3DAHtwZMRzO7J3HV2W~8NmPYYGsmBnXx5dMs0B4UCemN-Cx~mfyc6stohH1EvCoCQlb~wJTyZH6Dt9U~U4-mcysTv71Jd7Bfv2-aXP0wD2Dl3IiK33-FRrgW8K8op6HVX15-beAKQ~v4d5mL-ex5yBs8pLHkCjYsUT-zRGECVyNrs8w8VDuVv5yQOFQPJOksOow5VkmyqcPvIgPpGkzWMP4pXNWIrVk0e~GhwV769qeDQdui-6mOBr7rdZ0wMXPyXlS7HlzsKWCL5R2qLwVqIG5nTNAgTiy3MesRqeaxs7T-tUMxieZH9f07-iEhvw~~fhTjKGkDQG8dYl-EVGAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Newton County economic development staff briefed the Board of Commissioners on FY26 priorities, saying the county's digest and median household incomes have risen sharply and outlining resources returning from Staunton Springs development and upcoming Highway 278 projects.

The county presentation said median household income has climbed in recent years and unemployment is low; the office also reported a multi-year increase in the tax digest, noting 2024 was the highest year on record and that digest growth averaged about 13.8% over recent years. The presentation said Staunton Springs (including the Rivian site) has started generating PILOT-style returns: more than $5.5 million in pilot funds is expected to come back to the two counties, with Newton County's share described in the presentation as about $1.6 million and additional tax streams tied to Takeda of roughly $11 million with a Newton allocation in the low millions.

Representatives of the Highway 278 Community Improvement District (CID) described an active capital program along a 3.2-mile corridor and requested continuation of local support. The CID representative said Phase 1 of the Highway 278 reconstruction — including three roundabouts, streetscape and sidewalks — carries a total estimated cost of about $21.44 million. The presenter said grant funding for Phase 1 was finalized and that local commitments (about $1,000,200 total in local matches including $320,000 from the Board of Commissioners and $320,000 from the City of Covington) leverage state and federal funds at approximately a 17-to-1 ratio. The CID requested a level appropriation of $30,000 for FY26, matching FY25.

The CID presenter also described separately funded GDOT work — intersection improvements and smaller safety projects done with no local match — and said GDOT recently programmed an $11 million roundabout at SR 142 and Highway 278 that would be state- and federally funded and expected to reach construction in 2028. The CID said its efforts have increased assessed values within the district by roughly 34% in six years and that recent retail investments (new restaurants, a strip center and hospital office development) are not yet fully reflected in valuation data.

Commissioners discussed options for handling revenue streams such as the JDA funds and whether returned funds should be held in the general fund or placed in a dedicated account for targeted investment in infrastructure or taxpayer relief. Commissioner Henderson urged consideration of a separate fund to ensure returns from development benefit taxpayers as originally intended. Economic development staff and the JDA/IDA representative said further discussion and follow-up would be needed to establish allocation policy and to finalize how one-time or pilot receipts would be used.

Ending: Economic development staff and the CID said anticipated county revenue from large developments and continuing grant support for Highway 278 projects will shape capital planning; commissioners signaled interest in considering dedicated uses for returned pilot funds.","County economic development staff and the Highway 278 CID described increases in the county tax digest, anticipated PILOT funds from Staunton Springs/Rivian and multi-million-dollar roadway projects on Highway 278 funded largely by federal/state grants; the CID asked the county to continue prior local commitments.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6274452,"Newton County Library board warns funding shortfall will force cuts after 16 years of flat appropriation",2688,4047000,6735000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2990454-83e4b90ac01db01957c5f06b97ad5d3c&start=4047&end=6735","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2990454-83e4b90ac01db01957c5f06b97ad5d3c/thumbnail_4047000.jpg","/articles/6274452/Newton-County/Georgia/Newton-County-Library-board-warns-funding-shortfall-will-force-cuts-after-16-years-of-flat-appropriation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6274452-592b8c0e8260d5cc91b66bdc9a84fde0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770441425&Signature=UX8oV9pDnU5ZIu-30bArKE9MPjwPIvBYT7sScZIKautrkJEDplhJbFVAaqngaJ17kigCsk9gOYKxJp0WtLYdRaUhXmViw5FqR2uS5rPLt~llklxmMAowsZGznD0CVFX3uI0TLcjV4O9b4qtFhvwuGGF8tcSDUJmRqWu9Lm5b7~SbmCyMk9dPG7iwOXyNBakSxR~yo7pB6IBNfk2rvf67rvEOA2Stv2-GxEM43uKyKAMc2xTFcRyJnWuxypd3brKM2LjXC9G~Cvmiver1vObHxuqmSa3LzCqSgDgtNgiCLPtd8AeH9QpeoekfsFvMEJcLBYlXbGFoWQiPbHhTjSj9eg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Zach Ames, chair of the Newton County Library Board, and Library Director Lise Keaton told the Board of Commissioners at the FY26 appropriation workshop that the system needs an increase in county funding after 16 years without a substantive rise.

Ames said the library has operated for years on a shrinking reserve and flat county appropriations. \"This is year 16 that we were asking for an increase,\" he said, adding the board wants to keep libraries open and expand services. Keaton told commissioners the system circulated about 220,000 items in FY24 and handled roughly 81,000 in-person visits despite a two-month closure for repairs at the Covington branch.

The treasurer of the library board, Frank Turner, warned of immediate financial pressure if the county does not increase the appropriation. He told commissioners that state rules require the county not to reduce local funding from the prior year or the library risks losing state funding. Turner summarized the operational squeeze this way: \"With the $916,000, this year, we'll buy $455,000 worth of goods. Money don't buy what it used to buy.\" He said the library has cut staff from about 41 positions historically to 12 today and has been drawing down reserves to maintain operations.

Board members and library trustees described services that would be at risk without additional money: reduced hours, fewer programs (including early literacy kits, book delivery through the PINES consortium, a summer reading program and financial-literacy programming for children), and inability to cover rising retirement and health-care costs tied to the Board of Regents plan that covers library employees. Keaton said library payroll-related costs alone are projected to rise substantially under the Regents' health plan: \"In 2032...we paid $743 per employee. In fiscal 26, we gotta pay a thousand $885 per person. That's gonna eat in our budget like crazy.\"

Commissioners asked about volunteer support, rental revenue and grant activity. Keaton and Turner said the system pursues grants and uses volunteers for limited tasks but that grants are typically restricted to specific programs (\"sprinkles on ice cream\") and do not cover ongoing operating costs such as staff salaries and benefits. Turner said some revenue sources such as small facility-use fees or election-related payments are minimal and do not offset the larger structural shortfall.

Commissioner comments indicated sympathy for the library's position and a desire to explore options during budget deliberations. Keaton invited commissioners and the public to attend the library board's next meeting on May 1.

The library officials asked the county to consider an increase above the current appropriation (the FY25 local appropriation listed in the library presentation was $916,000) to avoid deeper cuts and the permanent loss of services.

Ending: Library leaders urged the commission to weigh the loss of state matching funds and the practical effects of further staff reductions when it finalizes the FY26 budget; the library board will meet May 1, when trustees expect to continue outreach to county leaders.","Library trustees and staff urged the Board of Commissioners to increase county funding for FY26, saying 16 years of flat local support and rising personnel and benefits costs have exhausted reserves and forced deep staff reductions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Local youth and community organizations request funding as county considers reopening Nelson Heights center and expanding summer programs

Newton County DFACS highlights caseload growth and staffing limits during appropriation briefing

County health providers seek level funding and partial restorations as public-health demand rises

Newton County economic development officials highlight rising tax digest, Staunton Springs returns and Highway 278 CID projects

Newton County Library board warns funding shortfall will force cuts after 16 years of flat appropriation