by:  Diane Benjamin

Tari Renner BELIEVES he can raise your taxes anytime he wants.  He just doesn’t want you to remember he did.  Sorry Tari, just because the Pantagraph and WJBC won’t remember or report, I will.

The votes on the 3 new taxes for the City of Bloomington are shown below.

The Aldermen who voted FOR tax increases and are up for election next year are in red.

The Aldermen who voted AGAINST tax increases and are up for election next year are in blue.

Fruin, Black, Mwilambwe, and Lower aren’t up for election next year.

The ONLY Alderman who is up for election next year and voted NO on all 3 tax increases was Stearns.

Alderman Schmidt, Painter, and Fazzini voted YES on all 3.  Sage vote Yes on the Utility Tax,  Ask Mr Sage why.  Gas taxes can be avoided by buying gas outside of Bloomington-Normal.  Amusement taxes can be avoided by not spending money at applicable locations.  The Utility Tax can’t be avoided.  This tax hurts the poorest people the most.

Fazzini claims he isn’t running for re-election

Schmidt, Painter, and Sage don’t understand you aren’t the City Piggy Bank.  You will get more tax increases next year unless they are defeated.

Below is the record of the votes

Item 8. Text Amendment Ordinance to Chapter 39. Taxation, for Implementation of a $.04 per Gallon Local Government Motor Fuel Tax.

Motion by Alderman Fazzini, seconded by Alderman Schmidt that the Text Amendment be approved and the Ordinance be passed.

The Mayor directed the clerk to call the roll which resulted in the following:

Ayes: Aldermen Mwilambwe, Schmidt, Painter, Fazzini, Fruin and Black.

Nays: Aldermen Stearns, Lower and Sage.

Motion carried. http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=6667

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Item 7. Text Amendment Ordinance to Chapter 39. Taxation for Implementation of a Four Percent (4%) Amusement Tax.

Motion by Alderman Painter, seconded by Alderman Mwilambwe that the Text Amendment be approved, the Ordinance be passed, and the City Manager be authorized to
enter into any agreements to collect the corresponding taxes.

The Mayor directed the clerk to call the roll which resulted in the following:

Ayes: Aldermen Mwilambwe, Schmidt, Painter, Fazzini, Fruin and Black.

Nays: Alderman Stearns, Lower and Sage.

Motion carried. http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=6667

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Item 10B. Text Amendment to Chapter 7. Taxation regarding proposed increases to the following Utility Taxes: Gas, Water, Telecommunication, Electric, and Municipal Gas
Use Tax.

Motion by Alderman Fazzini, seconded by Alderman Black that the Text Amendment be approved, the Ordinance passed, and the City Manager be authorized to
enter into any agreements to collect the corresponding taxes.

The Mayor directed the clerk to call the roll which resulted in the following:

Ayes: Aldermen Mwilambwe, Schmidt, Painter, Fazzini, Sage, and Black.

Nays: Aldermen Stearns, Fruin and Lower.

Motion carried http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=6699

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