Tag: Town of Normal budget

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Nobody elected in Normal will care, but do you?

By: Diane Benjamin According to Illinois law when property owned by government is leased the lessee pays the property taxes: The Edgar County Watchdogs did a story with lots of other details: https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2020/11/ousted-shelby-county-board-member-levonne-chaney-wants-taxpayers-to-pay-private-real-estate-taxes-on-her-way-out-the-door/?highlight=leaseholder Tonight Normal is paying property taxes, actually they pay the bills before Council votes because Council is immaterial: PDF page 12 https://www.normalil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/4650 […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

GOP accountability is working: Preston and Lorenz

By: Diane Benjamin Normal Town Council meetings are supposed to fixed in advance. Trustees know they are expected to vote YES on everything, after all staff is PROFESSIONAL. Representing taxpayers is shunned, staff is always right. Kathleen Lorenz and Scott Preston actually chose to act conservative last night. I wonder if both are afraid of […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Normal’s proposed budget

By: Diane Benjamin The Town of Normal will be holding an all day budget meeting soon, nothing is posted yet saying when. I’ve heard the meeting is tomorrow, that would violate the Open Meetings Act which requires posting 48 hours in advance. I FOIA’d the proposed budget so you can see it: Highlights: The proposed […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Normal vrs Bloomington

By:  Diane Benjamin Normal’s budget: http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/government-and-politics/budget-cuts-fee-hikes-monthly-water-bills-coming-to-normal/article_5a6c2b16-486f-5010-9330-9caafd2ebcc9.html   Bloomington’s proposed budget: http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/government-and-politics/city-hikes-garbage-fee-reduces-bulky-waste-pickups/article_98969c25-05f0-5009-966f-737908b06f3d.html   Normal is spending $1879.70 per resident. Bloomington is spending $2743.41 per resident Bloomington also has around twice as many employees with benefits and pensions that have to be funded. Which city will be filing for bankruptcy first? . . .