By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – It’s not that he’s against cutting the budget, Bloomington Ward 1 alderman Kevin Lower has a problem with the process.

Lower, a frequent critic of the city’s spending, didn’t help the city council with its priority list of cost-cutting ideas that a budget task force developed.

PODCAST: Listen to Scott and Colleen’s interview with Lower on WJBC.

“I am not willing to relinquish my authority and responsibility and abdicate that to a group that is mostly non-elected officials,” Lower said.

Lower told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin he has his own ideas. Alderman Scott Black had asked him if he would put his ideas in writing, something he hasn’t done.

“I chose not to partake in that particular discussion,” Lower said.

Lower’s suggestions include cuts to parks and other entertainment, such as the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts and possibly U.S. Cellular Coliseum, items which were listed by the task force.

“We need to continue to talk about not doing a zoo expansion,” Lower said. “We need to talk about why we are expanding the library at this time. We need to talk about why we need to continue to work on a very expensive downtown lighting project.”

The task force was charged with coming up with ways to plug a projected $7 million deficit. The city council will have final say on any recommendations.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].