Board endorses 2025 general fund adjustments to use ARPA and capital bond funding

The Bloomington Board of Park Commissioners on Thursday endorsed changes to the department’s 2025 general fund appropriations that would shift some expenses to American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and to proceeds from a capital bond issued by City Council.

Director Tim Street told the board the changes were prompted by late-2024 developments that freed up funding and allowed the department to reprioritize safety, maintenance and operational projects. “Late in 2024 after we had approved our budget, we were notified that we would have the opportunity to use some additional American Rescue Plan Act funds, and the capital bond was issued by city council, allowing for some expenses to be moved from the general fund budget, to the capital bond,” Street said.

The staff report proposes deappropriating $543,000 from the general fund and authorizing $430,900 for new projects, leaving a net reduction to the 2025 expense budget of about $112,000. Street said the largest portion of the deappropriation comes from moving security expenses to ARPA funding. He reminded the board that City Council must ultimately approve the general fund appropriation changes.

Board members had no substantive objections. One commissioner moved to approve the recommended appropriations changes; another seconded the motion and the board approved the recommendation by voice vote.

The board’s endorsement will be forwarded to Bloomington City Council for final approval as part of the city’s budget process.