By: Diane Benjamin

If corporations kept 2 sets of books, the leaders would be in jail. Bloomington is doing that: https://blnnews.com/2025/11/22/bloomington-flunked-the-transparency-test/

Did you know Bloomington is only paying interest in the Coliseum bonds? If it ever gets paid off the real cost will likely be close to twice what the original cost was. 1 year ago the City still owed $21 million: https://blnnews.com/2024/11/29/why-the-coliseum-isnt-paid-off/

That payment is in tonight’s Bills and Payroll Report: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/32083/638991598287170000

Government bases all decisions on if they can afford the payments. The total cost is never a consideration. That is the opposite of how anyone with a brain handles their personal finances. Of course, government has you to tax so money is never a barrier.

Once a month the Finance Director gives a report. Tonight will be another one, it won’t be posted until he does. I was forced to use revenue through September of 2024 and 2025 since the October numbers aren’t available.

See all the monthly reports here: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/government/advanced-components/documents/-folder-145

.

This data is for 5 months since the fiscal year started on May 1st. The City coffers have already collected $2,434,698 more than last year. Imagine what 7 more months is going to show!

Of course the monthly reports only show the amount budgeted versus actual receipts. Of course the columns don’t have “totals”. That would make it too easy to see the above.

Just like the State of Illinois, Bloomington has a spending problem. Revenue isn’t the problem. Watch property taxes get raised anyway. Maybe one of the progressives will shed a tear before the vote.

Every dollar government takes from you does nothing to grow the economy, it only makes you poorer.