The Rundown – City extends deadline for tax abatement projects

Published on November 21, 2025

The Rundown is prepared by the City of Newton Communications Office to summarize the City Commission action and does not represent official Commission minutes.

7:30 a.m. Nov. 20, 2025, Newton City Commission meeting

At a special meeting Thursday morning, the City Commission extended the City’s intent to grant tax abatements for two local industrial expansions: Full Vision and Avcon Industries.

Both companies recently completed the improvement projects required in their development agreements and are ready for confirmation by the City. Both projects’ resolutions of intent are approaching expiration, and more time is needed to confirm the improvements, draft ordinances to finalize the abatements, and hold public hearings.

The Commission extended both resolutions of intent by six months.

Property tax abatements exempt the property taxes on the increase in valuation created by the project improvements. They are a development tool used by local governments to spur economic development and create jobs.

In other action, the City Commission:

1. Discussed the mayor and vice mayor positions for the coming year. The City Commission’s annual reorganization will be at the Dec. 9 meeting. By tradition, Vice Mayor Kathy Valentine would be nominated to step into the mayor role. Instead, Vice Mayor Valentine said that she intends to nominate Mayor Rich Stinnett to continue as mayor for another year. She said she is comfortable serving where she is and has appreciated the leadership of Mayor Stinnett.
2. Held executive sessions to discuss the annual contracts of the city manager and city attorney.
3. Reviewed the upcoming agenda for the Nov. 25 Commission meeting.