By: Diane Benjamin
Remember when the Bloomington elites claimed they weren’t going to pass their own 1% Grocery tax?
Joke is on you. They tripled your water rates (by next May 1st), raised every fee 3% without ever voting since those are automatic, and negotiated unaffordable electricity rates on your behalf. Bloomington has the chance to let you keep a tiny bit of your own money. They won’t take it.
If you want to see why it will pass, read this WEEK story: https://www.25newsnow.com/2025/09/22/its-bloomingtons-turn-consider-keeping-1-grocery-tax-that-brings-millions/
The difference between Normal and Bloomington is Normal passed the tax almost simultaneously with Pritzker saying the State would no longer collect it for them. Normal institutes tax increases fast and then hopes you forget. Bloomington claims they won’t and then they do it anyway.
Memory Lane:
In 2021 for the second meeting in September, bills and Payroll showed 841 employees.
In 2022 it showed 869.
In 2023 it showed 1009.
2024 was 1098.
Tonight’s shows 1056. https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/31789/638937143721200000
Look up previous years from that link. It’s easy
In 5 years the number of employees increased 215. Without growing government the grocery tax wouldn’t be needed. Go back to the WEEK story above. This isn’t mentioned to justify fleecing you for more bucks. Just like the 1% Sales Tax passed last April, the claim is people who don’t live in Bloomington will be paying it. Meanwhile, property taxes are not going down.
215 x a low estimate of $70,000 per employee including benefits = $15,050,000. Possibly some are part time, but making Bloomington the entertainment capital of central Illinois isn’t coming without more employees.
Not voting has consequences. Congrats.
See the rest of the agenda here: https://bloomingtonil.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1022/files/agenda/6830
The City still has their favorite employees who are evidently allowed to spike their pensions by accumulating sick days:
Sick Leave Buy Back has cost taxpayers MILLIONS of dollars. This also won’t be mentioned to justify the grocery tax is needed.
The City might quit picking gaming winners and losers. Gee, novel idea.
The downtown businesses affected by the City ripping up the street will get a sales tax rebate:
Government jobs 101.
Two types:
•necessary/essential/required/seasonal
•favors/friends/promised/campaign/
promised/handshakes/contributors
Haven’t you all noticed an increase of the “blue haired (not the church reference)” staff at many of the city and County offices?
Perhaps some hiring those of similar interests, beliefs, ideologies, parties, dislikes, radicalism?
187 new hires since 2022.
Yes I noticed. A transvestite is employed at one of the county offices. He waited on me at the counter.
Go into the SSI office and any government city or state ran office and be treated like trash. (Great job Central Illinois)!! Don’t complain! Safety and security it’s worst!! $$$. We pay to be treated like trash I guess!
Yeah, I wasn’t happy with the attitude when I walked in. They act like we are convicts showing up for a parole appointment.
It’s like going to the DMV. Those people (most) are not pleasant. Working for government kissing the ring all day, great benefits if you can stomach the bs.
Looks like I will have to do my grocery shopping in Lincoln. I live 20 miles from Lincoln and last I check they have not voted in a 1% grocery tax yet. I hope it doesn’t change for them.