WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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The city of Bloomington released its proposed annual budget on Friday.
The 300-page document outlines 90 million dollars worth of expenditures. A majority of those funds are going to staff salaries.
The proposed budget has to be approved by the city council by department, before it is sent to the state. The budget for 2019 includes a $6 million overall increase in expenditures.
City of Bloomington Deputy Mayor Mick Renneisen said the 8 percent budget increase is partly due to the city adding positions to its public safety department. Renneisen said those hirings are largely due to public feedback.
Renneisen said another big part of this year’s budget comes from the city’s ongoing development projects: The Trades District, Switchyard Park, and the acquisition of the IU Health Bloomington hospital site.
Among other changes, Renneisen said the city’s 2019’s proposal is longer and offers a more in-depth look at budget items.
The city council is holding meetings with each department to approve and ask questions about their proposed expenditures. Those meetings are taking place at Bloomington City Hall at 6 p.m. this week. A full schedule is available on the city’s website Bloomington.IN.gov.
