By: Diane Benjamin

The 1/22/24 payroll showed 880 employees. Pay rate averaged $17.90 per hour for seasonal employees. https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/30014/638410997409630000

Tonight’s Bills and Payroll shows 953. Pay rate averaged $18.22 per hour for seasonal employees. https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/30070

Seasonal hours worked increased by 1,615. So, people are forced to take temporary jobs because full time jobs aren’t available?

On the Agenda for tonight: https://d3n9y02raazwpg.cloudfront.net/cityblm/f6ec8a35-5bbe-11ee-ae13-0050569183fa-791fe512-602c-4d20-98c8-ecdbbed39134-1707417752.pdf

Water main breaks are costing you money – “aging infrastructure” now means shoddy workmanship since many breaks have been on the east side and southwest Bloomington where the infrastructure isn’t that old:

License plate reader program is expanding thanks to a grant (your washed money) – $67,400. See 8F

See 8G. The City will spend $241,810.31 on software to make staff more efficient. Don’t expect the Sales Tax to decrease since the “structural deficit” that did exist when it was passed is long gone and staff will be more efficient after this purchase. Tax increases are NEVER surrendered!

See 8H. Golf cart usage on Public Streets will be legalized for special events.

All the above is one the Consent Agenda and won’t be discussed.

There is a Public Hearing where few if any citizens speak on the spending of CDBG funds. The Economic Development Department will spell out their plans and then citizens can respond.

You will also get a preview of the 2025 budget. Have popcorn ready. Of course it won’t be posted in advance so you can follow along.