Bloomington City Hall.
(Alex Eady, WFIU/WTIU News)
Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton has asked the city council to approve a $131 million budget for 2024 — about $1.8 million, or 1.4 percent more than the 2023 budget.
The mayor’s office said the proposal emphasizes the city’s workforce, public safety and infrastructure to improve quality of life. It is this administration’s eighth and final budget proposal, as Hamilton will leave office at the end of this year.
Budget highlights include a 5 percent salary increase and a $500 one-time bonus to non-union employees, a 5 percent raise for firefighters instead of the 2 percent in their contracts, more civilian responders for 911 calls and $20 million in one-time expenditures.
“Bloomington (is) positioned exceedingly well, with outstanding momentum in housing, jobs, diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, sustainability and essential city services,” Hamilton told the council at last week’s first of four budget hearings. “Together, we weathered the pandemic and related economic storms. Our community has leaned in and is in a very strong position for the remainder of this decade.”
Hamilton’s $131 million request does not include the utilities department and Bloomington Transit. The city budget is based only on appropriated funds.
Utilities are funded entirely by customers, while Bloomington Transit is a corporation separate from the city. However, both the utilities and Bloomington Transit budgets also must be approved by the council.
One-time expenditures included in the proposed budget will be funded by federal American Rescue Plan Act, or COVID-19 relief dollars, and local funds. They include the following:
$1 million in new sidewalk funding
$2 million in street improvements focused on bicycle and bus routes
$2.7 million for improved traffic signals to better coordinate with public transit and safety vehicles
$5 million for housing, including low-income and homeless services, workforce rental housing and support for homeowners
$1.5 million for job growth, economic development and climate projects
$1 million in diversity, equity and inclusion programs
$1 million in public health focused on substance use disorder and mental health programs
Hamilton told the council he is open to amending that part of the request, however.
“This proposal of $20 million is not written in stone,” he said. “We are presenting a series of recommended investments that we believe will bring our community extraordinary value. If a majority of (the) council prefers different allocations, we welcome those discussions in coming days and weeks.”
The council is poised to vote on the final budget during an Oct. 11 special session. Hamilton’s proposal may undergo several revisions before then.
If the council were to approve Hamilton’s proposal, several departments’ budgets would increase by more than 10 percent from 2023. Only two would see a decrease of more than 10 percent.
Those that would see increases greater than 10 percent include:
Human Resources: +21%
Legal: +22%
Bloomington Fire Department: +11%
Community and Family Resources: +19%
Public Works: +19%
Animal Care and Control: +19%
Facilities Maintenance: +24%
Parking Services: +15%
Streets: +23%
The following departments would see a decrease of more than 10 percent:
The council is unlikely to approve the draft budget as presented, however. It rejected several departments’ initial requests, including those by the police department and clerk’s office.
City Clerk Nicole Bolden asked the council to reject her department’s request. She wants the council to raise her salary, but her department’s request did not include her desired increase.
Bolden’s salary for 2023 is $64,773. She is eligible for a 5 percent increase next year, but she said she wants her salary to match those of other city department heads.
The council is slated to vote on a resolution Wednesday which, if approved, would indicate the council’s desire to set her 2024 salary at $104,089.
Hamilton has also received pushback for his plan to hire new civilian employees known as community service specialists to respond to more 911 calls. He wants to redirect some of the dollars allocated for unfilled sworn officer positions to hire five community service specialists to respond to low-risk calls, including welfare checks.
The local police union objects to using funds meant to hire sworn officers instead of being used on non-sworn personnel. Representatives also say they are concerned with the safety aspect of Hamilton’s plan.
The council rejected the police budget as recommended.
Votes during budget week are non-binding. By rejecting some requests, the council indicated it wanted to see changes to those parts of the overall proposal before voting on the final budget.
