City budget has final hearing before vote

Bloomington City Council members were optimistic at their meeting Wednesday night for a unanimous approval of next year's proposed budget.\n"I can't find much wrong with the budget," said District II representative Jason Banach. "It's never going to be perfect, but for the most part we are doing a pretty good job."\nThe $50 million budget has been in the works since July and includes a number of appropriations for various programs throughout the community.\nThe Council will vote on the budget next week.\n"Putting forward a strong budget maintains strong investment and builds a better place for people to live," Bloomington Mayor John Fernandez said.\nThe budget is being raised roughly 4.3 percent from 2003, mainly due to new investments in public safety, the addition of 552 new parking spaces and liability insurance for city employees. Additional money in the budget will be allocated to maintenance of city sidewalks for $150,000, $90,000 for the Parks and Recreation Department and $500,000 for alternate transit, all of which was included in the 2003 budget.\nThe budget also allows for the hiring of three new firefighters which will cost roughly $162,000. Fernandez said the addition was needed to maintain a force level compatible for Bloomington.\nController Tom Guevara attributed the hefty budget to the strong business sector in Bloomington.\n"Businesses produce the resources that are needed to protect taxpayers," Guevara said. \nAlso noted were the strong fiscal reserves, Guevara said investments allow Bloomington to generate revenue while at the same time also decreasing tax rates.\nWednesday was not the first time the budget has been discussed. In July, the first draft of the budget was brought in front of the council and two weeks were spent reviewing it.\nIn May, the council had a "budget retreat" and Wednesday was the final hearing before next weeks vote. \nThe budget has been reviewed in the last five months, but council members say they have only made small changes in that time.\n"Essentially the budget from July has not changed," Council President and District VI representative Chris Gaal said.\n2003 could also set a precedent for a unanimous vote for a budget in the last eight years. \nCouncil members had many ideas on the proposed budget, in particular the fortunate situation that Bloomington residents are in. \n"Look around the country, look at the federal deficit and what other local governments are experiencing. Then look at Bloomington," Gaal said. "We are incredibly fortunate, this budget funds our basic priorities while at the same time maintaining our reserves."\nMany representatives were content with the financial situation such a large budget puts on the city.\n"We are in a sound financial position," District I representative Patricia Cole said. "I'd like to think that we are fiscally conservative and that has paid off for us."\nWhile many of the representatives aren't worried about the rise and fall of monies in selective departments, District IV representative David Rollo said social service funding, mainly through the Jack Hopkins Social Services fund, will decrease within the new budget. \n"With the rise of poverty in the country, I am concerned with the funding and the investment in the community and how that will affect our children," Rollo said. "I see the money falling and not as readily available in the future."\nOverall Fernandez is happy with the budget and the progress that has been made.\n"A lot of input has been made," Fernandez said. "We embrace the entire population there is no difference between students and non students, all are interdependent and help to make investments and have an effect on the community."\n-- Contact staff writer Lindsay Jancek at lmjancek@indiana.edu.