New Farm Shifts $3.4M to Community Centers, Cuts Administrative Overhead

The New Farm mayor signed the Community Services Reallocation Ordinance on July 7, directing city council funds toward expanded case management and food distribution at three neighborhood centers. The measure applies to residents who use the Riverside Community Hub, Hilltop Family Services Building and Lakeside Senior Center for daily support. It removes two administrative positions and moves the savings into contracted social workers and supply budgets.

City budget documents from the prior fiscal year showed that administrative costs consumed 22 percent of the community services line item. The new ordinance caps that share at 11 percent. Local agencies recorded a 19 percent rise in walk-in requests for emergency assistance between January and May 2026, according to intake logs submitted to the council clerk.

Residents who previously waited three weeks for an appointment at the Riverside Hub will see intake slots open on the same day or the next business day once additional case managers start in September. Working parents in the Hilltop district gain access to an extra 40 after-school spots per week at the family services building. Seniors at the Lakeside Center receive two additional weekly delivery routes for prepared meals, reducing the current list of 87 people on the wait list.

The legislation states that the 3.4 million dollars will be drawn from the general fund reserve and transferred in quarterly installments. Council minutes from the July 6 meeting record that 1.1 million dollars will cover new staff contracts, 1.6 million dollars will purchase food and hygiene supplies, and the remaining 700,000 dollars will cover facility operating hours extended until 8 p.m. on weekdays.

Service Adjustments at Each Site

Under the ordinance, the Riverside Hub adds evening legal aid clinics twice monthly in partnership with the county bar association. The Hilltop Building extends its job training workshops from two to four sessions per week, with priority enrollment for households already receiving utility assistance. The Lakeside Center increases its transportation van fleet from three to five vehicles, covering routes that previously ended at 4 p.m.

Implementation begins with a 30-day public comment period on the draft service schedules, followed by staff hiring in August. The city clerk will publish updated hours and eligibility rules on the municipal website by August 15. Quarterly progress reports are required under the ordinance and must be presented at open council meetings starting in October.