By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington’s acting city manager said he’s following the city council’s directive to balance the budget without raising property taxes.
Aldermen on Monday evening will review a proposed levy to collect a little more than $20 million in property taxes next year, unchanged from the previous levy.
The tax rate of $1.08 per $100 of assessed valuation is also unchanged.
Acting City Manager Steve Rasmussen said he and his staff must find ways to fill a $1.5 million deficit in the general fund, and perhaps another $1.5 million deficit for city maintenance.
“We have a general fund of $100 million, $1.5 million is 1.5 percent. That is not an insurmountable challenge, and that’s why the council was willing to say, ‘let’s go back and look at that rather than raising taxes,’ ” said Rasmussen.
He said the city might put off equipment purchases. Rasmussen said there’s also a “soft” hiring freeze, in which staffers must justify to the city council the need to fill vacant positions.
Aldermen will also consider a levy for the public library that would cost taxpayers an extra $4.17 next year for the owner of a $165,000 home.
A staff report to the council said higher levy is necessary to begin at least $2 million worth of library repairs over the next five years.
The council is also expected to discuss a proposal by Grossinger Motors Arena managers to take over management of the city-owned Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected].
