By: Diane Benjamin
The lawsuit I filed to obtain concession and payroll information from the Coliseum was a lot more expense than the last Freedom of Information lawsuit I filed. The County has raised fees! The last time I found a cheap process-server, this time I had to use the Sheriff’s department. The cost doesn’t include the time I spent typing the complaint or travel to the Law and Justice Center getting all the correct forms. The first court date will be sometime after 30 days.
Those fees, just like everywhere, are just another tax without representation. All of those costs are in the budget that is paid for by our taxes. This is just bonus money for them. Its like the school system charging you to register your kids, and all of those associated fees.
I guess it’s time to see who will “put their money where their mouth is” in relation to holding CIAM accountable. Did anyone notice the Coliseum was NOT mentioned by the budget task force? Are the citizens of Bloomington willing to let millions of TAX dollars pay for annual operational LOSSES at the Coliseum? That amount is in addition to mortgage payments and maintenance expenses. The structural deficit would be significantly reduced if the Coliseum closed its doors. Hales thinks the Coliseum manager is doing a good job. Oh, really? According to Hales, these type venues are not intended to make money. Oh, really! Do you want your tax dollars to continue to be sucked into a black hole without any explanation as to why?
The City and the citizens have no idea how much John Butler is taking out in concession sales. The lack of fiduciary responsibility to taxpayers is astounding!
The City Council & Manager just keeps blaming the Fire & Police for the structural deficit. I doubt John Butler could or would run into a burning building to save someone else.