By:  Diane Benjamin

News flash:  Bloomington City Manager David Hales will put the sale of 3 golf courses out to bid if the budget task force recommends selling them.  He will seek “proposals from golf management companies with an established track record of success”.

Meanwhile, 2 guys with a track record of failure are renegotiating a contract to manage the Coliseum.  Tonight the Council will hear about the great job CIAM is doing.  I expect several members to drool in awe during the presentation.

The bird-cage liner continued on the “let’s help the City pass a Sales Tax increase” path yesterday.  A guy with little money and no experience running golf courses gets the front page.  The budget committee can now report they looked at everything, but there are no alternatives to closing the budget gap other than raising taxes.  Citizens are being set up to believe their officials are doing the best they can.  Don’t forget the Coliseum video boards Hales told you were competitively bid but really weren’t.  http://blnnews.com/2015/07/16/can-we-call-this-fraud/

Anybody remember when Judy Stearns and Kevin Lower attempted to propose cuts totaling $5,000,000, but Tari wouldn’t allow any discussion?  Funny how neither of them got hand-picked for Renner’s committee.  Almost makes me think cuts aren’t being considered!

Remember when Tari was everywhere proclaiming golf at least broke even?  Seems like just last summer.

Evidently, every word uttered by Renner and Hales must now be fact checked.  The only question is when the Council will realize they are being played.  Several never will.