By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington property owners will see a modest increase on their tax bills next year because Eastland Mall’s value is sinking at a faster-than-expected pace.
City leaders hoped to hold the line on property taxes, but a 32 percent decline in Eastland Mall’s taxable land value means the owner of a $160,000 to $165,000 home will pay $1.46 more in taxes, according to Bloomington Finance Director Scott Rathbun.
Monday night, aldermen unanimously approved a levy in which the city intends to collect almost $20.3 million to pay for city services and almost $4.9 million to fund the library.
The city’s portion is $225,000 higher than this year’s levy, and the library’s levy is $48,000 more than this year.
City Manager Tim Gleason said at a minimal cost to taxpayers, the local government has found strong candidates to become Deputy City Manager, a position Gleason has restructured after the departure of former Assistant City Manager Steve Rasmussen.
“No consultant was hired,” said Gleason.
“You’ve got a few hundred dollars that (were) spent to post on the various professional websites, and we’ve done extremely well,” Gleason also said.
From a field of 30 candidates, department heads are interviewing five finalists.
The assistant city manager ran three departments under the previous system. The deputy city manager, to be hired early next year, will have direct contact with all city departments, according to Gleason.
In other business, Leslie Yocum was introduced as the interim city clerk, replacing Cherry Lawson who’s taken a city clerk’s job in Arizona.
Yocum has been the city’s contract administrator.
“I’m excited to get to know you all on a closer level and to explore some of the opportunities that I see in my current role as contract administrator,” said Yocum.
“I’ve recognized some duplication that (happens) in the clerk’s office, and I think there’s some great opportunities,” Yocum also said.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
