By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington alderman Kevin Lower has been a frequent critic of the city’s spending priorities, but Lower said tonight’s scheduled town hall meeting is an open forum for all viewpoints.

Lower has circulated comments calling the city’s budget task force a ‘tax force’ suggesting the group’s true intent, though he said those aren’t his words.

“I was reiterating what I was hearing from ward one and others,” Lower said. “It is a task force and that’s their opinion. They are very heated about this.”

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

Mayor Tari Renner sent an email obtained by WJBC which was in response to the forum calling for “voices for progress and improvement” to be heard so that “the extreme voices of a vocal and nasty minority do not prevail.”

Lower shrugged off the remarks.

“I’m not really even offended by it,” Lower said. “They are welcome to send anyone they like. That’s what I want to hear.”

The city has a task force that’s looking for ways to plug a projected $7 million deficit next year. Lower added the city’s spending priorities tend to be too ambitious and there should be more attention paid to essential services.

“Investing in infrastructure, which is a primary responsibility on city government, can’t be put off so we can have the major headliner at (U.S. Cellular Coliseum),” Lower said.

The meeting is at 7 p.m. at the Lafayette Club, 1602 S. Main St.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].