By Nick McClintock
BLOOMINGTON- Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner knows there has been a lot of discussion of the planned Flamingo exhibit at the Miller Park Zoo, but he is happy the plan passed the city council Monday night.
Renner told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin that several former mayors made their voices heard to the council, all with the same message. “Please move ahead with this,” Renner said. “And Jessie Smart said, “If you essentially breach this contract that has been signed several years ago, to match private money, the zoo won’t be able to raise a nickel.”
The city voted 6-2 Monday to spend initially $163,000 on the exhibit.
Budget Task Force
Renner also spoke about the Budget Task Force in the city of Bloomington, who will bring recommendations to slim down the city’s deficit next month.
Renner says the task force is looking at straight cuts to jobs or services first, but that is becoming easier said than done. “They realized we have shed about 100 full time employees in the last six years, we went from 750 to 650.” Renner said. “So they have talked about some fees, and possibly a sales tax, we will see what they come up with.”
The sales tax possibility has been raised in the past, but was shelved because Bloomington didn’t want to have a higher sales tax than Normal. However, the Town of Normal has indicated that their tax rate may be going up soon, so there would be no disparity in the sales tax in the twin cities.
At any rate according to Renner, a rise in the sales tax wouldn’t put Bloomington at an economic disadvantage. “Of all the metros in downstate Illinois, Bloomington-Normal has the lowest tax.” Renner said “We are lower than Peoria, lower than Springfield, lower than Champaign-Urbana and Decatur, so we aren’t going to lose anything in the task force recommends that and the council approves it”
Nick McClintock can be reached at [email protected]
