by: Diane Benjamin
See part 1: http://blnnews.com/2014/04/21/council-recap-if-you-arent-watching/
THERE WILL NEVER BE ENOUGH MONEY FOR GOVERNMENT
2 tax increase and they are still $1.2 MILLION short.
Just wait until next year and the next year when pension payment go even higher. Fazzini proposed cutting 2 stop light installations, otherwise Lower and Stearns are the only aldermen even considering cuts.
Renner is now forcing a vote on the budget. Schmidt can’t understand why it’s so difficult to get a handle on the budget. Renner wants tax increases and more tax increases. The easy cuts to things like staff travel, consultants, and food purchases as proposed by Stearns and Lower aren’t being considered.
The $1.2 million grows to $1.7 million with overage from the current year due to the harsh winter. Fazzini again brought up the deferred maintenance $460 million dollars more. Of course he wants to borrow money for normal city operations. Detroit anyone? Chicago? Bloomington is headed in the same direction.
Stearns returned to her list of cuts – $5 million. Renner is threatening massive layoffs while ignoring her. Mayor, why are cuts off the table? Council, why did you vote NO to even consider cuts?
Renner is giving another speech about the 9 months process of passing a budget. Nobody is buying that line Mayor. Maybe you’ve been considering tax increases that long, but open and honest discussion on the budget hasn’t happened until recently when time didn’t allow any REAL dialogue.
The budget that doesn’t balance passed 6-3. The potted plants mostly lined up, Stearns, Black and Lower voted no. Black didn’t say he would vote no, surprising since he’s normally in Renner’s pocket.
Renner has again taken the floor to talk about how destructive the budget is. He thinks there is room for a few cuts, but not anything near what is needed. He is still upset about pension funding. He is going to veto it. Nice job Mayor, don’t cut a thing.
They will be back next Friday – without Alderwoman Stearns who will be out of town. I assume Renner will try to put the Utility Tax back on the agenda. Stay tuned for Friday. The Council is now discussing overriding Renner’s veto.
Alderwoman Stearns made another case for cutting administration. Four years ago it was $325,000, now it’s proposed at $625,000. What do the administrators do Tari? Anything the citizens actually care about? Who got fired for the disastrous cart roll out? Are these administrators in charge of comparing Bloomington with cities around the world? I doubt the citizens care! How many apply for awards? The City Manager’s monthly report shows more awards Bloomington received, at least one you had to apply for. Raise taxes to keep administrators? Citizens? It’s time to get involved! (or move out of town)
Myself and many of my friends are telling our kids to move out of Illinois now and establish roots in a more financially responsible state. They understand.
My son is in Wisconsin. I told him the same thing.
So glad that we moved from the CIty of Bloomington to a rural subdivision 7 years ago. Currenlty we purchase most of our groceries and fuel in Bloomington; but will start shopping for both in other communities. We still have 10 more years to retirement and we will be out of this state for good. Unfortunately, our jobs will keep us here until then.