By Joe Ragusa

BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington aldermen have agreed to send the Downtown Bloomington Association $90,000 to continue efforts developing downtown Bloomington.

Mayor Tari Renner said it’s a small investment compared to other cities.

“The city of Pontiac pays more for their downtown association and they’re a small fraction of our size,” Renner said. “They understand that economic development is critical to your downtown, to attracting tourism (and) to attracting people to live in your community.”

The measure passed with just one no vote from Alderman Kevin Lower, who had reservations about the use of taxpayer funds for downtown businesses while ignoring the rest of the city.

“I don’t think that it’s appropriate to have a tax, but maybe (the Downtown Bloomington Association) should have a membership fee or something, include everyone and if you need to raise more money, then do it,” Lower said. “But don’t do it on our backs.”

The council also approved the appointment of Jessielee Hinshaw to the Cultural District Commission and an intergovernmental agreement with the town of Normal to regulate the ride-sharing service Uber.

Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].