By: Diane Benjamin
January 1st the local Sales TAX is going up 1%, just because. Maybe this chart from the Bloomington financial statements explains it: http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=9336 Page 175
Tax receipts have been declining for two years. Instead of spending less money to compensate for an obvious economy in decline, the City of Bloomington raised the Tax RATE.
Still think Home Rule is a good idea?
Reports when Bloomington passed the tax increase said the new 1% would generate $9.6 million – way more than taxes are down. http://www.masstransitmag.com/news/12117558/bloomington-oks-sales-tax-increase
How did they get to $9.6 Million? Not using current numbers!
Moral of the story:
Even with Mitsubishi closing and State Farm moving people out, the City is still projecting Taxable Sales are going to increase. They will be lucky to even collect and additional $9.353 Million in the current economic environment.
Isn’t it sad that 7 Council people voted to steal more of your money just because they can?
In case you forgot, these two Alderman voted NO:
All the rest think like the Chicago Alderman – WE NEED more money. How’s that working for Chicago?
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Thieves!
Keep in mind 0.25% of that 1% is earmarked for McLean County jail expansion/mental health.
We WOULD NOT need ALL that jail space IF a certain former mayor wouldn’t have brought all the “folk” from Chicago down for the state money! PLUS, we hired more police to attend all those folks also-another moral, FREE money ain’t NEVER free! , AHH for the good days, when Miller Park was a playground and not a revenue source and the streets and sidewalks were level! Can’t wait to see WHAT KIND of excitement flamingos will give me.
I believe utility and water usage is down which means those taxes will be lower as well.