By: Diane Benjamin Somebody finally got around to posting the Bills and Payroll: http://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=15822 Diane Hauman is now going on the One Voice trip with Renner, Black, and Rasmussen ( https://blnnews.com/2018/01/26/more-government-travel-at-your-expense/) $1600 x 4 = $6,400 to visit the DC swamp instead of demanding in-district meetings with representatives. That number is before other expenses. Does […]
By: Diane Benjamin In case you didn’t know, the City of Bloomington Employee Activities Committee threw a party on October 31, 2017: https://blnnews.com/2017/12/12/party-on/ EAC threw themselves another party on January 27th at the BCPA – the Winter Event. This time there is no reference to a charge for attending. The City even PAID the BCPA […]
By: Diane Benjamin Bloomington and Normal are the only cities doing their own garbage pickup in the area. According to the Pantagraph, Normal did their own investigation of rates. They declared NO money could be saved by privatizing garbage pickup. See the chart here: http://www.pantagraph.com/graphic-waste-collection-fees-services/pdf_a5d93a81-e7db-537c-b830-c5fafd8a34bc.html The Pantagraph must not have noticed some of those other cities […]
By: Diane Benjamin Tonight Bloomington City Council: http://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=15546 PDF page 55. This item is on the Consent Agenda. That means it won’t be discussed unless an alderman pulls it. The documentation doesn’t say what this person will do, what the job description is, what the salary will be, or what happens if the “Friends” don’t have […]
By: Diane Benjamin We used to get lots of interesting information in the City Manager’s monthly reports. The City Manager quit doing them because the reports showed information the City didn’t want you to know – like monthly tax receipts and library traffic. The financial statements the City just got around to releasing from almost […]
By: Diane Benjamin The video of the December 20th budget meeting at the BCPA has been posted. The camera angle does not allow viewers to see the data the crowd got to see. One thing is clear: Council members like Scott Black believe government is the answer to every problem, they just need to spend […]
By: Diane Benjamin Public comment went over 30 minutes last night. That set a new precedent for allowing it to go over 30 minutes without a Council vote. Keep that in mind when Tari doesn’t want to allow all the speakers in the future. The 30 minute time limit should only apply when someone is […]
By: Diane Benjamin Remember when Tari had to have a hotel downtown to “benefit the Coliseum”? Remember when he said over and over developers were lining up to get projects started downtown? Today Tari’s Downtown Task Force has the brilliant idea of moving the library and creating a bus transfer station. Neither will be private […]
By: Diane Benjamin Source: http://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=14181 The 2017 year ended for the City of Bloomington last April 30th. We are most likely MONTHS away from seeing real financial statements, late is what governments do and the private sector would never tolerate. I did find a glimpse into what they will say – see the link above. […]
By: Diane Benjamin The council never asks questions. I wonder if they even look at the documentation! Bills and Payroll from last Monday: http://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=13099 The Coliseum cost more – architect: Did the City buy tickets for employees? Feel free to FOIA! Why did the BCPA return so many deposits? Why does the BCPA […]
By: Diane Benjamin A few notes that never made the news: Those 4 parking lots the City purchased from Frontier so the BCPA has more parking: What was the cost? To find out you have to dig deep in the packet – the cost isn’t on the agenda: Page 530 of the packet: http://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=12738 The […]
By: Diane Benjamin UPDATE to this story: https://blnnews.com/2017/01/23/redistributing-your-wealth/ Since WGLT is National Public Radio, your federal tax dollars already fund them. They aren’t allowed to sell advertising, all they can do is “underwritten by” non-specific ads. That doesn’t keep your local tax dollars from ending up in their pocket though. I received this information under […]
By: Diane Benjamin The agenda for Monday’s meeting was posted on Thursday. The agenda lists the total to be approved for payment in Bills and Payroll. Somehow, even though the City knew what the list was, it wasn’t posted until after 4:30 Friday. Anybody think they are hiding something? See the list HERE Actually a […]
Alderman Scott Black is the organizer of this event. He wants to show all elected officials can work together. Scott: the Council has NO history of working together! Former Alderwoman Judy Stearns was completely ignored when she presented opinions. Ditto Alderman Kevin Lower. The Budget Task Force was ignored, so was the the Citizens Summit. […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Pantagraph has a ridiculous editorial today urging the City to spend spend spend on downtown. They must not realize with building the Coliseum and covering the losses, rehabbing the BCPA, and with the TIF dollars from the past – Bloomington is probably close to spending $100,000,000. Don’t forget to add the […]
By: Diane Benjamin A reader found this story from 2005 in Peoria Magazine: http://www.peoriamagazines.com/aa/2005/jun/silhouette It’s an interview with former Mayor Judy Markowitz when she left office. Quotes from the article: Are both running successfully yet? The BCPA is a big money loser, you already know about the Coliseum. (Another Coliseum story: http://ilnews.org/9870/financial-probe-of-coliseums-former-manager-may-involve-concession-money/) Every mayor since […]
By: Diane Benjamin The City of Bloomington Finance Department posted a summary as 4/30/16 – the end of the City’s fiscal year: http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=10958 The information is un-audited and tax receipts from State sources lag months behind, but the 63 pages provides a good snapshot of where finances were at the end of April. Below is […]
By: Diane Benjamin From Bills and Payroll for Monday night: http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=10911 In June I posted receipts showing Tari Renner is feeding himself and calling it “business meal”: https://blnnews.com/2016/06/30/free-lunches-do-exist/ This month’s P-Card spending shows more Renner meals with no one else listed. Of course I’m going to file a FOIA for the receipts. More questions: Eric […]
By: Diane Benjamin David Hales has posted his April City Manager’s report, but much of it is missing: City Manager’s Report – April 2016 The biggest missing item: Finance Previous reports have shown tax receipts above budget. So why are those numbers missing from the April report? David? ************************** Congrats to Golf: Out of the […]
By: Diane Benjamin Quality of Life? it’s not if you can’t afford to live here or participate! Details for anything listed as Total are in this document FY 2017 Budget Detail It’s searchable, so any item is easy to find. Much of the below is what Bloomington spends to entertain you. I’m purposely not including […]
By: Diane Benjamin Finally somebody at City Hall decided to release information! Surprise surprise. February and March both neglected to include anything about the library. They must have forgotten to count the visitors and distribution since they are under new management. BCPA for February: That’s 133 people per event. How about some real data – […]
By: Diane Benjamin Watch this short campaign video Tari made in 2013 while running for office. Very close to the end he claims infrastructure can be improved without raising taxes. Funny how he stumbled over the proper words though. Since Tari became Mayor, $10,000,000 has been borrowed for roads with plans to borrow A LOT […]
By: Diane Benjamin I’m sure you’ve seen Bloomington’s symbol: What the symbol means is listed on the City website and in the presentation for Tuesday night. It isn’t new, no Tari didn’t change or create the definition: According to dictionary.com: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/progressive 1) Favoring or advocating progress, change, improvement, or reform, as opposed to wishing to […]
By: Diane Benjamin According to the BCPA website, seating capacity is 1180. I don’t know if that includes the balcony. Only tiny people can fit in those jammed together rows. Maybe it’s been fixed, I haven’t been there for years. On Bills and Payroll for approval Monday night: http://www.cityblm.org/index.aspx?page=242&parent=9535 RT PRODUCTIONS LLC INV PERF FEE […]
Anybody know if Nora sends this out? By: Diane Benjamin The bigger government gets, the worse job they do. Accountability becomes lower and lower because they feel invincible. Since they play with your money, being correct isn’t a priority. Enter the City of Bloomington. David Hales has issued his December City Manager’s report. It contains […]
By: Diane Benjamin Last night’s Bloomington City Council work session never did ONE thing, clarify the purpose of government. The elephant in the room is sucking the life out of the City because local government has no core values. Alderman Fruin tried to start a discussion of Council priorities – start watching at 1:11. His […]
By: Diane Benjamin David Hales’ NOVEMBER City Manager’s report is finally on-line: http://www.cityblm.org/index.aspx?page=21&parent=8106 Zoo attendance is down again, but Revenue is up. Before the report gets to why, readers have to endure glowing reviews. When prices are raised and a tax is added, it’s not surprising Revenues are higher. I wonder how many people came […]
By: Diane Benjamin The October City Manager’s report is now on-line: http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=9452 Miller Park Zoo Revenue from admissions was up 13.3% for the current fiscal year. Last year, the revenue from admissions broke the all-time record for the Zoo in a fiscal year. This represents the fourth consecutive year the all-time attendance revenue record was […]
By: Diane Benjamin The following numbers were taken from a report received under the Freedom of Information Act. The report has all current budget detail by department. Email me if you want the report, I can’t link to it in a readable format. (blnnews@yahoo.com) The first column lists everything connected to the BCPA on the […]
By: Diane Benjamin Illinois ranks very close to the top of the worst run states in country. Illinois should be a wonderful place to live – natural resources, centrally located, world-class universities, Fortune 500 companies with headquarters here, just to name a few. Instead, we don’t even have a budget. Illinois’s government exists for government […]
By: Diane Benjamin David Hales City Manager report for September is now on-line: http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=9344 Interesting notes: 1) Attendance for the BCPA was 7,369 for September on-site events, activities, meeting, etc. The Facility usage was 47 on-site functions. (Page 31) . 7,369 divided by 47 events = 157 people per event. . Doesn’t the BCPA lose […]
By: Diane Benjamin The David Hales April report is now on-line: http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=8632 Visitors to the library continue to be lower than prior years, but they want to expand! If they build it you will come! I’m sure you realize you are saving a lot of money with lower fuel prices, but so is the City! The […]
By: Diane Benjamin Yesterday former Mayor Jesse Smart spent 2 hours on WJBC – mostly talking about local government. I can only think of three things he said that I agree with: 1) Government needs to spend tax dollars locally. His example was printing brochures for the BCPA. He said they are printed in Champaign. […]
by: Diane Benjamin From the proposed budget – Book 2 http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=6394 Only 11 years to pay off the BPCA! Don’t count on the 1/4% Sales Tax going away before then. It funds the Coliseum and BPCA.
by: Diane Benjamin The financial statements for the year ended 7 months ago have finally been issued, now we can find out what’s in them. In the previous year, the BCPA received only $1,450,000 in Home Rule Sales Tax, so they had a profit of $450,000 just from people shopping in Bloomington. Admission Fees were […]
by: Diane Benjamin I reported previously on Like-Kind exchanges at the BCPA. http://blnnews.com/2013/09/26/proof-wjbc-isnt-real-media/ The BCPA listed like-kind exchanges with both The Garlic Press and Lucca Grill for $2500. The BCPA would provide advertising in exchange for food supplied by both. I sent the following Freedom of Information Act request to the City of Bloomington: Details […]
by: Diane Benjamin While reviewing the Trial Balance received under the Freedom of Information Act for the BCPA, an entry under advertising looked suspicious. For the non-accountants out there, a Trial Balance lists every entry, both income and expenses. Below is the entry – see the one for $193,835.00. It is labeled Like-Kind exchange. […]
by: Diane Benjamin Tomorrow night you can attend a show with Wayne Brady for the low low price of $54-$85 a ticket. For the math impaired, that $108 a couple to $170 a couple. Hopefully the $108 isn’t in the balcony where you have to be very short or be able to imitate a canned […]
Rumors abound that stage hands, technical staff, whatever they are called are unionizing at the BCPA. Is this why Carol Struck was hired? or is this a case of the rich getting richer? Is somebody keeping secrets? Local government non-transparency is showing. BTW, I hear the Pantagraph has apologized to Judy Stearns for the article […]
by: Diane Benjamin The Bloomington City Council was NOT consulted about the choice of Carol Struck to be interim head of the BCPA. They weren’t even consulted on whether the BCPA needed an interim manager. Just like the money given to the West side churches for the summer youth program, the BCPA has never been […]
