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Bloomington council approves $3 million increase to 2025 tax levy, two members dissent
Summary
The Bloomington City Council approved the city's 2025 tax levy package, a $3 million increase (13.44% of the proposed levy) that directs $1 million each to police protection, fire protection and parks. The ordinance passed with two dissenting votes, amid debate about resident impacts and deferred infrastructure.
Bloomington's City Council approved an ordinance on Dec. 15 adopting the city's 2025 tax levy after a public hearing and council discussion. The council vote approved a $3,000,000 increase in the levy, with $1,000,000 proposed for police protection, $1,000,000 for fire protection and $1,000,000 for parks.
The finance director, Scott (identified in the record as Scott Rathburn/Rathman), told the council the levy accounts for a significant portion of general fund revenues and that the city's property tax rate has not increased since 2022. He said inflation since 2011 has outpaced levy increases, and the proposed increase is intended to realign revenues with rising costs, sustain core services and address deferred capital needs. He noted that state statute requires a truth-in-taxation hearing for increases over 5%.
Council members pressed staff on metrics and impacts. The finance director said property tax comprises roughly 15% of total general fund revenues and represents about 11 cents on the dollar of the total property tax bill paid by Bloomington residents. He clarified the $1,000,000 each for police and fire are intended for operating protection (public safety services), not to fund actuarially required pension contributions. He provided recent actuarial contribution figures for public safety funds and outlined prior budget adjustments including $2.5 million in operating reductions, delayed equipment purchases and staff attrition.
Several council members raised concerns about affordability and cumulative tax burden. Member Montney argued Illinois property taxes are among the highest nationally and urged coordination among taxing bodies so residents are not overwhelmed, particularly retirees on fixed incomes. Other members said staff had found necessary operational savings and framed the levy as an incremental step to restore service capacity and fund deferred infrastructure.
Member Hendricks moved approval and the motion was seconded; the council adopted the ordinance by electronic vote. The clerk announced two nays: Member Montney and Member Lee. The ordinance levies taxes for the City of Bloomington and McLean County for the fiscal year beginning May 1, 2025 and ending April 30, 2026. The council recorded no change to pension actuarial responsibilities; pension obligations remain subject to actuarial schedules funded from other revenue sources.
The council also approved related housekeeping abatement items and other agenda items later in the meeting. The ordinance takes effect according to statutory timelines for levy adoption and collection; the council did not change pension funding requirements as part of this levy action.
The council will consider any additional implementing motions or budget adjustments during the regular FY 2026 budget process; staff said they remain available to answer follow-up questions and to provide more granular distributional data from the county assessor.
Ending: The council adopted the levy ordinance on Dec. 15; two members voted against the measure and the city will proceed with levy administration under the approved ordinance.
