Bloomington council seeks funding for street and sewer work

Posted on August 22, 2017
The Bloomington City Council is looking for funding for $220 million in requested infrastructure work. (Photo by Patrick Baron/WJBC)

By Lindsey Harrison/WMBD

BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington’s city council is considering ways to fund much needed street and sewer improvements.

The council got an update on the city’s five-year Capitol Improvement Plan on Monday. City Manager David Hales explained, without new revenue, the city will not be able to keep up with the needed projects.

The CIP has a total of about $300 million in requested projects over the next five years. Only $80 million is funded.

Hales and Public Works Director Jim Karch told the council that the city’s roads and sewer are at a critical point. Karch explained that preventative work costs much less than fixing a problem when it happens.

The council will consider the possibility of raising sewer and water rates gradually over the next year, to help fund the improvements. Council members asked that staff look into how much rates would have to increase, in order to pay for all of the street and sewer work. Alderman say they will then consider whether or not a hike in rates is warranted, and how much is necessary.

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