Bloomington's budget advances

Bloomington is one week away from the passage of the 2007 city budget, which moved past preliminary approval at Wednesday's city council meeting.\nThe $55.6 million budget, a 4.3 percent increase from the previous year, received an 8-1 vote, with the lone "no" vote from Councilman David Sabbagh.\nMayor Mark Kruzan summarized the budget as putting emphasis on economic development, public safety and physical infrastructure.\n"We believe we have directed funding towards the needs of the community, both in human and physical infrastructure," Kruzan said. "This proposal contains an increase in the Jack Hopkins Social Services Fund, affordable housing, employee compensation increases, as well as tremendous investment in capital replacement and infrastructure improvements."\nKruzan further outlined that the budget provided for improvements and maintenance of the city's parks, public works projects such as sidewalk improvements and capital projects such as investment in the B-Line Trail. Other items in the budget include the beautification of the Buskirk-Chumley Theater and the Banneker Community Center and the development of the Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District.\nCouncilman Sabbagh questioned why the city projects to have $8.7 million in reserves at the end of the year, 31 percent of the projected net revenue for the year, saying that some of that money should be put to use in capital investment or given back to taxpayers.\n"At the end of the year, if you have $8.7 million, it seems to me that's about $2.5 million more than you need," Sabbagh said. "The taxpayers expect us to use their money for their benefit, not build huge reserves to put in the bank. I tell you, I can think of a lot of sidewalks I could build so that kids can walk to school with that money."\nThe majority of the council members applauded the proposed budget, including Councilman Chris Gaal.\n"I'm very happy with the 2007 budget," Gaal said. "The budget reflects our concerns with an emphasis on public safety, police and fire, and human needs, but also the attention to the continued investment to the quality of life amenities that make Bloomington a special place, like the alternative transportation and greenways plans."\nOther budget highlights include the addition of two police officers and three firefighters and a 2.75 percent increase in the salaries of elected city officials.\nIn separate budgets, the city's utilities departments requested $26.7 million, an increase of 13 percent from last year, while Bloomington Transit requested $7.86 million, an increase of 37 percent from last year.\nA final vote on the 2007 city budget will take place Sept. 13.\nCouncilman Jason Banach, who has served on the council for 10 years, also announced Wednesday he will be stepping down, effective Sept. 30.