City council approves CDBG funding, members angry at decline in assistance

Bloomington is receiving at least $113,688 less from the federal government’s Community Development Block Grant Program than last year. \nThe Bloomington City Council voted Wednesday to approve the mayor’s recommendation to distribute the funds. It passed 6-0-2.\nThe program is headed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Each year, they send tax dollars to communities to fund social programs, administration and physical improvements. When funds get decreased, all departments get less money. \n“(The CDBG funds) have been declining every year since 2000,” council member Dave Rollo said. \nCouncil member Chris Sturbaum blames the spending on the federal government. \n“As money for the war goes up, it goes down for communities,” Sturbaum said. “What happens at the federal level matters.”\nCouncil members worried that by decreasing the funds some charities will be left without enough funding to function.\n“We must meet more and more needs with fewer and fewer resources,” council member Susan Sandberg said. \nToby Strout, the executive director of Middle Way House, said she “doesn’t know what is going to happen,” to her charity with less funding. \n“No one can change the amount of money from the federal government,” Strout said. “This is a matter of priorities … a $15,000 contribution is not even adequate.” \nOther citizens said that the federal government has “its priorities out of place, especially when it comes to the Pentagon.” \nLisa Abbott, director of Housing and Neighborhood Development, laid out the plan for spending the $743,750 expected this year. Different groups apply through her for the program’s money, which is then sent to the mayor and finally to the city council.\nPart of the problem is that only so much of the program’s money can go to each category. \n“Of the allocation, only 15 percent can be used for social programs,” council member Timothy Mayer said. “Only 20 percent can be used for administration, with the remaining 65 percent used for physical improvements. That money helps people with low income housing to stay in their homes … or make emergency home repair.” \nA solution to the lack of funds is to raise the money locally, council member David Sabbagh said.\n“Lets not talk the talk, let’s walk the walk,” Sabbagh said. “Let’s raise the money locally. In the summer (when the budget is planned), I never hear demands for social services. This is my challenge to the public.” \nA final vote on the spending of the funds will occur next Wednesday.