Bloomington Mayor John Fernandez presented his 2002 budget to the city council Monday, calling for a 7.7 percent increase in spending. The budget, which would be financed with a property tax levy increase of 2.16 percent, met with a lukewarm reception.
It passed a preliminary vote 4-1, with four abstentions on the Democrat-controlled council.
Three of the abstaining council members didn't have issues with the mayor's capital investment plan or his proposed additional funding for public safety. The three Democrats -- Chris Gaal, Andy Ruff and Jeffrey Willsey -- focused on a $78,000 subsidy to the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation, a private not-for-profit group that advocates economic growth.
The annual subsidy -- a small fraction of the city's requested $47 million budget -- has recently come under fire from leftist critics, who say the group has too much clout over zoning policy. They also take issue with its $5,000 membership fee, which they call exclusionary.