BLOOMINGTON — The Bloomington Common Council will convene for a special session on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, to consider first readings for the city’s water and wastewater utility budgets and vote on final readings for the proposed 2027 Civil City and transit budgets.
The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers (Room 115) at City Hall, 401 N. Morton Street, with options for the public to attend virtually via Zoom or stream the proceedings through Community Action Television Services (CATS) and the city’s YouTube channel.
2027 Civil City Budget and Proposed Amendments
At the center of Wednesday’s second-reading votes is Appropriation Ordinance 2026-02, establishing the 2027 Civil City budget. Controller Geoff McKim reported that the Civil Maximum Property Tax Levy for 2027 is set at $43,756,072. This represents a 6% increase over the 2026 levy, matching the statewide Maximum Levy Growth Quotient (MLGQ).
The overall Civil City proposed budget totals $113,142,452 across funds subject to Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) review, led by a $63,752,216 General Fund appropriation. Non-DLGF-reviewed home-rule funds total an additional $58,277,766, which includes $20,840,887 in Economic Development Local Income Tax (ED-LIT) allocations and $12,297,866 in Food & Beverage Tax funds.
The administration’s budget includes a 2.7% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for civil employees and a 3.0% COLA for police, fire, and AFSCME units, along with a 9% increase in health insurance costs that will not be passed on to employees. Additionally, $650,000 has been set aside in the Public Works General Fund to cover Bloomington’s quadrennial share of the 2027 Primary and General Elections.
Council members have introduced 15 amendments to Ordinance 2026-02 aimed at trimming spending:
- Capital Outlays and Projects: Amendment 12, sponsored by Councilmembers Isak Nti Asare, Hopi Stosberg, and Isabel Piedmont-Smith, eliminates a $2,500,000 placeholder appropriation in the Parking Meter Fund until detailed project plans are provided. Amendment 10 seeks to remove $3,000,000 in unspecified housing grant funding from the Housing Trust Fund.
- City Operations and Subsidies: Amendment 01 proposes reducing the ED-LIT subsidy for sanitation services from $1.6 million to $1 million to incentivize raising trash cart fees. Amendment 02 cuts Information Technology Services (ITS) equipment funding by $600,000 pending a clearer implementation plan for outcomes-based budgeting.
- Studies and Personnel: Amendment 03 removes $490,000 for Planning & Zoning corridor and subarea studies, while Amendment 09 applies a 1% vacancy factor across civilian personnel line items to save $405,599.
First Reading: Water and Wastewater Utilities
The Council will also hold a first reading for Appropriation Ordinance 2026-04, which sets the 2027 operational budgets for the City of Bloomington Utilities. The ordinance outlines balanced budgets for both major service arms:
- Water Utility: Total projected revenues and matching budget appropriations of $28,869,000. Spending plans allocate $16,863,500 for operation and maintenance, $7,041,000 toward sinking fund debt service, and $4,964,500 for extension and replacement projects.
- Wastewater Utility: Total projected revenues and matching budget appropriations of $36,400,000. The budget directs $24,631,130 to operation and maintenance, $8,327,780 to sinking fund debt service, and $3,441,090 for stormwater and wastewater extension projects.
Public Safety Salaries and Public Access
In addition to the main city and transit budgets, the Council is scheduled to take up second readings on salary structure ordinances for 2027:
- Ordinance 2026-25: Fixing 2027 salaries for sworn officers in the Police and Fire departments.
- Ordinance 2026-26 & 2026-28: Establishing 2027 salaries for appointed officers, non-union staff, AFSCME employees, and City Clerk deputies.
Members of the public can submit questions or report document accessibility issues regarding meeting packet materials to the Common Council Office at council@bloomington.in.gov or by phone at 812-349-3409.
