The Bloomington City Council unanimously passed the city’s 2025 civil budget Wednesday evening after discussion of a taxpayer objection petition occupied the majority of the meeting.
The council members found that the petitioners, led by Bloomington resident Joe Davis, did not file their objection in a timely manner. The council adopted this finding, along with a finding that the petition did not warrant a change to the city budget, to be included in the meeting minutes.
The petition claimed that the city’s Capital Improvement Board, which is responsible for planning Monroe County Convention Center renovations, was unconstitutionally formed and requested the council freeze any funds allocated toward the renovations.
To be considered a valid petition under Indiana Code, it had to be submitted to the council within seven days of the Sept. 25 budget hearing, which made it due by Oct. 2. The council received the petition at 12:01 a.m. Oct. 3.
Prior to the meeting, Council Attorney Lisa Lehner said she requested proof from Davis that the petitioners pay taxes, which he did not provide, leading to more questions from the council.
After the council voiced concerns about the other nine taxpayers who endorsed the petition, Davis approached the podium during public comment to read the names and addresses of the other petitioners.
“I want to identify the people who I represent,” Davis said.
Council president Isabel Piedmont-Smith told Davis he was out of order and ultimately asked a police officer present in the chambers to remove Davis. When approached by the officer, Davis left the podium.
Council member Matt Flaherty gave a second reading of an ordinance to subtract $250,000 from the parking meter fund, which the council passed.
Progress on the convention center will continue as planned, with almost $52 million budgeted toward renovations. Also included in the budget were affordable housing and annexation planning, as well as wage increases for many departments, including fire, police and community and family resources. For example, the fire department personnel budget increased 27%.
The mayor’s office and the council were able to agree on compromises regarding transportation, infrastructure and safe street projects budgeting priorities in earlier budget hearings. Instead of using general obligations bonds to fund the council’s public transportation priorities like the mayor’s office had initially suggested, the city controller, Jessica McClellan, agreed to account for the projects in the budget.
The 2025 budget totals $151 million. It operates in a deficit due to the loss of annually renewing grants like American Rescue Plan Act and Community Redevelopment Economic District funding.
The city council will meet again at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 30 at City Hall.
