Normal's fiscal year 2015-2016 is worth $101.7 million. (Adam Studzinski/WJBC)
By Adam Studzinski
NORMAL – Normal's Town Council has approved the fiscal year 2015-2016 budget, along with a new local gas tax and increased garbage fees.
The budget is worth $101.7 million. The gas tax is for $0.04 a gallon. The new garbage fee will be $18 per month rather than $12.
Councilman Chuck Scott said he appreciated how the budget was structured.
"What I appreciate the most of what they did in putting together this budget is that they didn't make cuts around the edges," said Scott. "Rather, they looked at all programs that are mission critical and they provided us with a plan that helped us to achieve our collective goals."
Councilman Jeff Fritzen said he knows these are not the most popular decisions, but he believed it's what needs to be done.
"I'd rather make a tough decision today than put it off a year, two years, or three years when the decision not only will be more difficult, it'll be even less popular than it is right now," Fritzen said.
Councilman Kevin McCarthy believed it's fair for Normal to create the gas tax.
"I think this is an equitable way, a fair way, to pay for infrastructure development," said McCarthy. "If you use it more, you're going to pay for it more. If you use it less you're going to pay for it less, essentially."
Bloomington created the same tax in 2014. Councilwoman Sonya Reece added despite this fact, gas prices in Bloomington and Normal has been relatively the same.
Adam Studzinski can be reached at adam.studzinski@cumulus.com.
