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Newton council clears transfers to fund police wage increases, road and fire‑station work; approves solar lease authorization
Summary
The council approved transfers totaling more than $1.8 million across multiple accounts to cover contractual wage increases for patrol services, retroactive adjustments, roadway and sidewalk improvements, and Fire Station 2 renovations, and authorized potential lease for solar generation at Burr Elementary.
The Newton City Council approved multiple budget transfers and committee recommendations including authorization to move funds to cover collective‑bargaining wage obligations and infrastructure needs.
Councillor Block reported the public safety and transportation committee recommended two notable transfers: item 214‑26 requested $1,175,000 from FY27 reserve funds to fund FY27 patrol services full‑time salaries to meet obligations under the recently signed memorandum with the Newton Police Association; item 215‑26 requested $710,000 from FY26 reserve funds to allocate $500,000 to FY26 patrol services full‑time salaries, $105,000 to FY26 engineering services full‑time salaries and $105,000 to FY26 traffic safety salaries to cover retroactive wage adjustments. Councillor Grossman told the council finance had reviewed and approved these transfers and related items, generally by committee votes of 7–0.
Other finance items the council approved in committee and on first call included a $900,000 transfer for improvements to roadways, sidewalks and ramps (item 197‑26) and authorization for potential lease for solar energy generation at Burr Elementary School (item 201‑26). Councillor Grossman said the transfers were amended to reflect correct accounts and reallocate some funding toward snow/ice control measures before committee approval.
Why it matters: The transfers fund contractual wage obligations and infrastructure priorities that affect municipal operations and public services in the coming fiscal year.
Committee votes were recorded (finance committee approvals were generally unanimous, 7–0) and the council’s grouped first‑call roll call returned 23 ayes on those first‑call items with one absence. Councillor Krentzman also reported the programs and services committee approved moving Ward 2 precincts 2 and 3 back to the Cooper Center for Active Living (item 213‑26) by committee vote 6–0; late‑filed items setting early‑voting hours for September 1 and November 3 were admitted after a suspension of the rules on voice votes.
Next steps: Finance and the relevant departments will post amended account allocations and proceed with procurement or implementation steps for roadwork and Fire Station 2 renovations; the Burr Elementary solar lease authorization will proceed subject to final lease terms and department review.
