By: Diane Benjamin Inflation has stolen close to 20% of your buying power – just since 2021: . Inflation will continue unless government policies change. Facts: https://www.bidenomics.com/ According to GasBuddy, the cheapest local gas is at Huck’s on West Oakland – $3.39. Three years ago gas was more than $1 less a gallon. https://www.gasbuddy.com/go/gas-prices-2021-year-in-review According […]
By: Diane Benjamin If you still haven’t played with the Local Government Reporting on the Illinois Comptroller’s website, do it now! This is the link to Normal’s reported debt: https://illinoiscomptroller.gov/constituent-services/local-government/local-government-warehouse/processsearchresults/?DisplayMode=GETAFR&AFRDesiredData=Indebtedness&Code=064/095/31&CFY=2022&Menu=Yes&PrintIt=No At the beginning of FY 2020 total debt was: $88,090,580 At the end of FY 2020 total debt was: $85,752,874 At the end of FY […]
By: Diane Benjamin If you want to watch the almost 7 hour budget session you can do so below. You won’t be able to see the slides discussed by the Finance Director because they aren’t on the video. You have to see those here: https://www.normal.org/DocumentCenter/View/19621/Budget-Summary-Proposed—Jan-2022-Budget-Worksession Get your two devices ready, get popcorn, and then fall […]
By: Diane Benjamin Problem identified: Kathleen’s facts are right, Stan Nord’s aren’t. Did Kathleen read this story? Her facts were WAY OFF! https://blnnews.com/2020/12/10/lorenz-how-about-not-believing-everything-you-are-told/ Kathy didn’t do any better in an interview with Cities 92.9. She was there to counter an interview Stan Nord did previously. You can listen to it here: https://www.cities929.com/david-paul-blumenshine/ The first topic […]
By: Diane Benjamin This information is from the budget: https://normal.org/DocumentCenter/View/14883/2019-2024 I don’t know why the budgeted revenue was decreased for this year, but Normal still plans to collect a lot of money for licenses, fines, fees, and permits. Maybe it’s down because little development is happening creating a need for permits. PDF page 27. This […]
By: Diane Benjamin Follow-up to this story: https://blnnews.com/2019/03/29/the-tale-of-two-downtowns/ How much does a pretty downtown cost? I find it hilarious that RC McBride is running radio ads asking for your vote claiming they have paid off $10 million of debt. They may have, but he doesn’t mention how much debt they still have left to pay. […]
By: Diane Benjamin As of 3/31/18 Normal had total debt of $89,823,286. $88,125,000 won’t be paid off until 2041. Interest rates range from 2.00% to 6.30%. Source As of 4/30/18 Bloomington had total debt of $242,010,034. $57,095,000 won’t be paid off until 2035. The interest rates aren’t listed. $173,646,119 is liabilities for pensions and associated […]
By: Diane Benjamin https://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/years-after-debt-free-milestone-normal-stands-by-uptown-spending/article_3fc56076-8d9b-5367-9899-4af94445ed20.html#tracking-source=home-top-story The Pantagraph ran this cute story about Normal on Tuesday. Quote from the article: Question: Does Normal not know how much debt they are in, or is the Pantagraph making up numbers? Town of Normal – Comptroller This is the debt reported as of March 31, 2018 to the Illinois Comptroller’s […]
By: Diane Benjamin See this story from December 2, 2017 https://blnnews.com/2017/12/02/normal-tossing-money-yours/ Bond payments look like they are made twice a year. On the agenda for Monday night: Interest payments of $1,541,388.73 http://www.normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/2973 In December the interest payments totaled $1,628,761.92 That’s a decrease of $87,373.19 Total debt is decreasing slowly – it was $92,320,992 at […]
By: Diane Benjamin What we do know: The freshman class this year at ISU was down 9.3% https://blnnews.com/2017/09/07/numbers-lie/ State Farm has cut employees and is cutting more Normal has a budget deficit (local media reports) The Normal Library has decided not to build new – the library WAS the centerpiece of Uptown 2.0 (local […]
By: Diane Benjamin If the Comptroller’s office ever does their job, comprehensive TIF reports will be available. So far they don’t have the software completed to allow entry of information. Information from 3/13/17 for Normal and 4/30/17 for Bloomington isn’t complete. Normal’s 3/31/17 financial statements: http://www.normal.org/DocumentCenter/View/12750 PDF page 30: The Uptown TIF Fund reported a […]
By: Diane Benjamin Normal bills for Monday night: http://www.normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/279242 When your property taxes go up Monday: You will be told the cost of other people’s retirements went up: The real reason is the debt Normal has incurred building utopia. . Look at all the INTEREST payments below in Monday’s packet. They total $1,628,761.92. It gets […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Town of Normal is pretending pension expenses are mandated by the State and they can’t afford them without raising Property Taxes. Somehow the Police and Fire pensions have been seriously underfunded for years. IMRF retirements have been funded above the 80% level since 2013, think Mark Peterson’s retirement, while in 2016 […]
By: Diane Benjamin Bloomington population: 78,005 Normal Population: 54,264 Bloomington Total Budget: $214,126,710 PDF Page 2: http://www.cityblm.org/home/showdocument?id=13155 Normal Total Budget: $107,133,177 PDF Page 15 http://www.normal.org/DocumentCenter/View/11571 Normal has 30% fewer citizens. Normal budgets 50% of what Bloomington does. Bloomington spends $2,745 for every citizens Normal spends $1,974 for every citizen Bloomington total debt 4/30/16: 270,629,828 http://warehouse.illinoiscomptroller.com/ProcessSearchResults.cfm?DisplayMode=GETAFR&AFRDesiredData=Indebtedness&Code=064/025/30&CFY=2016&Menu=Yes&PrintIt=No 4/30/17 information […]
By: Diane Benjamin As of 3/31/17 PDF page 41: http://www.normal.org/DocumentCenter/View/12750 Yes the citizens still owe $87,783,723 for Koos’s Uptown dreams. Police pensions are only 51.76% funded (PDF Page 129) Fire pensions are only 55.53% funded (PDF Page 130) That is why citizens are on the hook for $56,106.352 just for these two pension funds. Obviously the guys […]
By: Diane Benjamin A reader asked me yesterday what the debt for the City of Bloomington looks like since Tari Renner became mayor. Another reader did the research for me. Below are two tables he sent to me: Source: PDF page 36 http://www.cityblm.org/home/showdocument?id=12330 . Source: PDF page 33 http://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=7479 The biggest difference between the two […]
By: Diane Benjamin Bloomington finally released the financial statements for April 30, 2016. The TIF report still hasn’t been released and neither has a separate audited statement on the Coliseum. Maybe another year? Two? At this point, what difference does it make? It’s much easier to read the information from the Comptroller’s site. Total Full […]
By: Diane Benjamin Chris Koos has been mayor of Normal since 2003. Voters claim to want term limits – isn’t 14 years enough time to enact one? More reasons exist to dump Koos though. At the end of FY 2016, the Town was $99,974,191 in debt! Almost $100 MILLION! The population reported to the State […]
By: Diane Benjamin From the Illinois Comptroller website: Allin At a Glance In 2016 they borrowed $103,309 and paid back $39,131 http://warehouse.illinoiscomptroller.com/ProcessSearchResults.cfm In 2015 they borrowed $45,000 and paid back $10,000 Source: 2015 In 2014 they borrowed $90,000 and paid back $68,000. Source: 2014 Anybody see a problem? (These are numbers Allin Township gave the Comptroller!) […]
By: Diane Benjamin See the packet for the Town of Normal Council meeting Monday night here: http://normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/2249 Portillo Summary: The project is being done by a developer – Bloomington Landmark Development Inc Despite the name, this company has a Chicago agent and address: CT CORPORATION SYSTEM Normal is rebating Sales taxes of $1,825,000 PLUS interest […]
By: Diane Benjamin I reported in September Normal’s funding of Police and Fire pensions was dismal: https://blnnews.com/2016/09/26/normal-what/ While Chris Koos was busy creating his vision for “Uptown”, he forgot the Town’s other needs. One of those is funding pensions for the essential personnel citizens really want – Police and Fire. Somehow the employees on IMRF […]
By: Diane Benjamin Chris Koos CAN’T stop spending your money. A new library is on the way, not for books – he’s creating a social and fun club and expecting all of you to participate. Think Uptown events. Government controls your life – you aren’t allowed to make independent decisions because he is abolishing capitalism. […]
By: Diane Benjamin Last night Normal voted to waste more taxpayer money on consultants. They already know they want an expensive underpass, but they are spending $1.4 million+ on another study anyway. As of March 31, 2016: http://warehouse.illinoiscomptroller.com/LandingPage.cfm?code=064/095/31&searchtype=allunits&originalSearchString=Normal%20-%20a%20Town%20in%20Mclean%20County%20-%20064/095/31&CFID=11824458&CFTOKEN=2f4040be3c789a16-9F1393A4-5056-93B5-5E7A726C9A88D866 From the link above – click View Data – Indebtedness 2014 Total Debt: $86,788,630 2015 Total Debt: […]
By: Diane Benjamin Some regimes hold their populations hostage at gun point, other do it with debt. Normal is using debt for your entertainment. The Town must not appreciate their public safety personnel. If you missed it, police and fire pensions are seriously underfunded while the staff has plenty of room to collect their retirements. […]
By: Diane Benjamin The only Regular Agenda item tonight for the Bloomington City Council is the race to debt. (Capital Improvement Plan) For decades essential spending on roads, sewers, pensions, and maintenance have been neglected for “Quality of Life” items. Now, in an obvious election year proposal, the Council will debate borrowing money to fix […]
By: Diane Benjamin It’s great to have a plan, but Bloomington is going to create debt that future Councils have to deal with. Tari Renner promised to fix the roads. He didn’t promise to raise taxes to do it, and he sure didn’t say it would take borrowing tons of money to do it. Keep […]
By: Diane Benjamin Source: http://tinyurl.com/pnx86vs Yesterday I posted Normal and Bloomington Stats. Even with McLean County added, you still don’t have all the information. There are many other levels of government also levying taxes – like townships.
By: Diane Benjamin Ever wonder how much debt Bloomington and Normal have forced on taxpayers? Nothing beats a picture: (More next!) Source: http://www.comptrollerconnect.ioc.state.il.us/Office/LocalGovt/LGReportCardvs2/index.cfm?RptCrdFY=1999&code=064%2F025%2F30&C4=30&BetaSel=&OptionSel=SnglRptCrd
By: Diane Benjamin Below is one of the debt tables I misinterpreted. Government accounting is different from the private sector. To me, as a CPA, listing a payment from 2020-2024 means that payment will be made for 5 years. To government, that amount is the total. This table is from the CAFR – the financial […]
by: Diane Benjamin The City of Bloomington issued a Press Release stating the Coliseum has an Operating Loss for the first 6 months of the fiscal year of $300,848. The great news is they expected $43,603 more! Remember, the building isn’t paid for. that’s another $2,000,000 a year. Does Mayor Renner or the rubber stamp […]
by: Diane Benjamin The second installment of Real Estate Taxes was due in September, so don’t blame the shutdown. McLean County has 10 tax delinquent properties in McLean County where the bill is sent to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. So much for that AAA credit rating. The bills total $23,373.87. Luckily, the […]
From page 179 of the Annual Financial Report: Debt per Capita (Citizen) 2012 $1,307.07 2011 $ 1,214.69 2010 $ 1,276.32 Finances getting better? Yes, but at who’s expense? From page 180: General Bond Debt In 2003 bond Debt Outstanding per Capita $ 325.60 In 2012 bond Debt Outstanding per Capita $ 887.16 It […]
by: Diane Benjamin Below is the amount of interest paid per year by the federal government-per the Treasury Department website: http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/ir/ir_expense.htm Debt figures are inflation adjusted: http://home.adelphi.edu/sbloch/deficits.html The Interest Rate paid (APR) was estimated based on the amount paid and total debt. Interest paid Total Debt […]
by: Diane Benjamin No matter what happens, the GOP is going to be blamed. What they do is immaterial to the truth. Harry Reid today said they have no conscience. Reid fails to mention the bills he has on his desk the House passed, but he fails to bring up for debate. I thought the country […]
by Diane Benjamin Conveniently, now that the Feds own an empty prison, Sen. Barbara Boxer is lamenting the lack of space in current Federal prisons to house the Gitmo detainees. Even though there is currently a law against bringing the prisoners here, a second Obama administration will surely turn Illinois into Gitmo north. Source: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/24/boxer-worried-about-transferring-gitmo-detainees/ That isn’t […]
By Jayette Bolinski | Illinois Watchdog http://watchdog.org/57850/il-states-debt-equals-55k-for-every-private-sector-worker-report-says/ SPRINGFIELD — Every private-sector employee in Illinois would have to pony up more than $55,000 each to pay for all of the state’s accrued debt, according to a new analysis. Illinois has $271.1 billion worth of debt, among the worst states in terms of total debt, according to a report […]
Facts alone are enough to decide the election. The polls are meaningless, the American people aren’t stupid enough to fall for them. Gas Prices: 1.84 when Obama took office – hovering around twice that now. Fill up once a week? That’s is at least $40 a week x 52 – $2,080 per year – more than 1 […]
by Diane Benjamin Currently the Town of Normal is not in trouble because of the massive spending to create Uptown. They have a broad source of funding, and taxes were raised to pay for it. Unlike Bloomington’s investment in the Coliseum that CAN’T pay for itself, it’s easier to spread the Uptown cost over the […]
Let’s talk local government. What is their job, what is their responsibility to citizens? Bloomington thought you needed entertainment, so you got the Coliseum and the BCPA, neither has made a profit or even broken even. They both need YOUR TAX DOLLARS. Normal thought you needed a new Uptown and they aren’t done building and […]
The City of Bloomington is “Visioning” – so what exactly is it? The Town of Normal “Visioned” the Uptown project – now the formerly sleepy town is BURIED in DEBT. Of course they have a plan to pay for it! Raise taxes – they already have. See this previous post: http://blnnews.com/2012/05/30/normal-il-what-is-up-with-the-debt/ A large part of […]
