By: Diane Benjamin
Joni Painter was absent last night, so Ward 5 wasn’t represented.
There was no presentation last night on employee compensation. HR is going to want around $20,000 to study more. Alderman Mathy used common sense when he asked where ending Sick Leave Buy Back is. It is nowhere. He also asked why Bloomington salaries are just being compared to what other cities pay. He even mentioned other cities will say Bloomington increased salaries therefore we have to, then another city will raise salaries based on that cities increase. Maybe he’s a reader, I’ve mentioned that before. Salaries need to be compared to the private sector, not government. All employees have counterparts in the private sector with the exception of police and fire. Don’t count on any drastic changes or wage freezes anytime soon. Nobody mentioned comparing salaries to the average HOUSEHOLD income in Bloomington either.
Interesting facts revealed: Employees only contribute 4 1/2% of their salaries to their lavish pensions. Taxpayers have been paying over 12%, that amount will be reduced to slightly under 10% next year because IMRF is well-funded.
Hear Mathy’s comments around 14:30. Scott Black later agreed, of course consultants have to structure the changes for them – HR isn’t capable.
The City Manager reported an upcoming ordinance change to hold meetings at 6:00 instead of 7:00. He wants to eliminate the pre-meeting meeting.
On September 10th the Council will be asked to give up to $200,000 a year to the developer turning the old Bloomington Junior High into apartments. This will be to offset people who can’t pay. Most likely the money will come from the TIF, so schools will be shorted so people don’t have to pay the full cost to have an apartment. The apartment price just went up, when government subsidizes the rent it always goes up. Your property taxes also will increase to pay schools what they aren’t receiving from just this one property. Economics is too difficult when an agenda item they like is presented.
Also in the future is a low one-time registration fee for businesses! That’s how apartments started. First owners had to register, a couple of years ago the yearly registration doubled. It will happen to businesses too. Of course housing became more un-affordable with the double registration cost. Again, economics 101.
Gleason wants an ordinance stating fee increases will not exceed Normal’s. So Normal raises fees, Bloomington raises theirs. Repeat repeat repeat.
The Council doesn’t want to discuss Lake Bloomington. They must enjoy tearing out docks that have existed for decades and the resulting loss in property values. Since the Lake residents have no representation on the Council, maybe they could volunteer to help candidates get elected to the Bloomington Council who aren’t out to destroy them financially. They could at least contribute to campaigns. Scott Black would rather talk about O’Neil pool, expanding Constitution trail, and intersection safety. Around 46:30 a straw poll said they never want to talk about Lake Bloomington again. Following Alderman Hauman talked about residents of Lake Bloomington being charged for the cost of trees they are forced to remove to install a new septic system. She claimed some residents have been charged $30,000. Yes, the City determines the value of trees and charges residents to remove them. Whatever happened to the guy on E. Washington who magically had trees die he didn’t want? City?
.
.
..
.
..
.
.
..
.
..
I would be very scared if this was my HR Director and Compensation/Benefits Manager. Then again, with how much they are willing to spend on their employees, I bet they are favorites. How the City of Bloomington handles compensation, freely handing out large raises you wouldn’t find in any other sector on top of lavish pension and benefits, is just going to continue to drive up local taxes, state income taxes, and a boatload of fees.
and it keeps their supporters elected!
One more thing – you could also see the look of disgust on the HR Director’s face as Mathy talked about ways we could eliminate SLBB. It would be a huge boost for the city budget to eliminate this unnecessary expense. Springfield found out in the courts they had every right to take away this costly, lavish benefit.
She want to make sure she gets it!
I’m sure Jamie will get a talking to from Tari and the government trough feeders. He’ll chicken out soon enough. Perhaps with the SLBB, he’s worried that they’ll be no money left to waste, er spend, on his beloved Downtown Bloomington!