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This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, May 6th, 2025.
In today’s newscast, we revisit our reporting one year ago when Palestine solidarity protests broke out in Dunn Meadow at Indiana University. More in today’s feature report.
Also coming up in the next half hour, “Water Safety for Pets” on Lil Bub’s Lil Show – a co-production between WFHB and Lil Bub’s Lil Show.
But first, your local headlines:
Bloomington City Council Prepares for 2026 Budget Amid State Tax Reforms
Last Wednesday, April 30th, the City Council held a special session to discuss budget priorities for the year 2026, particularly as state and federal austerity measures and tax cuts threaten local funding for critical government services and infrastructure.
City Controller Jessica McClellan spoke on the influence that Senate Bill 1 would have on local revenue sources and assessed value.
Parcel by parcel analyses of the total impact are underway by the city, but McClellan assured the council that such an analysis will be complete before the beginning of budget season. She also explained the impact of Senate Bill 1 on local income tax, or LIT, revenues. The structure of income tax revenue will change in 2027, where government agencies will discuss a new tax rate for municipalities.
According to McClellan, the city will likely not receive the same LIT revenue as they have previously with their rate of 1.2%. In response to the potential for these state changes to affect Bloomington revenue, the council conducted an internal survey concerning major priorities outlined during an April 9th deliberative session. These results were shared in this meeting, with the most urgent priorities including: an increase in government transparency, the maintenance of government infrastructure, and supporting food security efforts throughout the city.
Council President Hopi Stosberg outlined the introduction of the letter to the Mayor of Bloomington drafted by council Vice President Isabel Piedmont-Smith that would serve as the council’s definitive statement on budget priorities for 2026.
Discussion of budget priorities began with questions of government transparency and overall performance, with Council Member Sydney Zulich calling attention to the problem of city information that is difficult to access.
Council Member Isak Asare extended the discussion of government infrastructure to city asset management, suggesting investments into software that would help track expenditure outcomes of maintenance of buses and sidewalks.
On this subject, Council Member Matt Flaherty suggested a $200,000 ballpark investment for supporting council operations, such as training and consulting. President Stosberg expressed concern over the figure, emphasizing the need for determining specific outcomes of the investment.
During public comment, Director at the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce Christopher Emge stated his support for the outcome-based budgeting, especially in view of Senate Bill One and where the revenue for the city government may stand in the future.
Also during public comment, Former Council Member, Steve Volan stressed the need for more research staff in allowing the council to exercise specific and effective legislation for the community.
The Bloomington City Council will meet again on May 7th.
Monroe County Approves Appraisal Contract, Hears Bird Flu Update
At the Monroe County Commissioners meeting on May 1st, Health Department Director Lori Kelley gave an update on Covid-19 and Flu cases in the county. Of note, are rising cases of bird flu activity.
The first item on the agenda was a contract with Integra Realty Resources Valuations Services for the re-evaluation of the Dillon Apartment Complex’s tax appraisal.
County Assessor Judith Sharp spoke to the commissioners on the reason for the re-assessment, explaining that the Dillon Apartments have requested that a new appraisal method be used.
Sharp said she expects this issue to go all the way up to the Supreme Court.
Commissioner Lee Jones asked if it will become necessary to have another appraisal done if an appeal is filed. Sharp said she thinks that will be the case. She added that the County is a test case for this new legislation.
The commissioners voted unanimously to approve the contract with Integra Realty Resources Valuation Services for the appraisal.
The commissioners heard the ratification of a 75,000 dollar state-funded grant that would support efforts to reduce youth incarceration through the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative. Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative Coordinator Christine McAfee walked through the proposal before the commissioners.
Commissioner Jody Madeira commended the initiative saying “it takes a village.”
Commissioner Lee Jones asked about how sustainable the funding looks like in the future. McAfee said it’s uncertain but she believes in the program and says the data reflects positively on the program.
The commissioners approved the ratification by a unanimous vote. The next meeting of the Monroe County Commissioners will happen on May 8th.
Feature Reports:
It’s been one year since Indiana University students and community members set up a pro-Palestine encampment in Dunn Meadow, protesting IU’s ties to the war in Gaza. A sudden change in university policy led to more than 50 arrests over several days. We’re revisiting our original coverage from April 2024, reported by Annika Harshbarger.
That was Annika Harshbarger reporting in April 2024. The Dunn Meadow encampments have since been cleared, and Indiana University enacted new policies restricting protests on campus. One year later, the space remains quiet, but the impact of those protests still lingers.
Up next – Lil Bub’s Lil Show, a co-production between WFHB and Lil Bub’s Big Fund. Hear today’s featured animal, a 6-year-old cat named Bev and the featured topic, “Water Safety for Pets.” All that and more on Lil Bub’s Lil Show on the WFHB Local News.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Tom Muckerheide, Noelle Herhusky-Schneider and Kade Young, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Annika Harshbarger.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
