Council adopts appropriation ordinances to align 2025 personnel and capital budgets

The Bloomington Common Council adopted two appropriation ordinances on April 16 to align departmental budgets with the 2025 salary ordinance and to adjust capital appropriations after GO-bond changes.

Controller McClellan told council that appropriation ordinance 20-25-04 moves budgeted personnel spending (originally budgeted as a lump sum in the HR account) into the various departmental personnel lines and related FICA and benefit amounts so departments have authority to pay employees at rates set in the new salary ordinance. "If we do not pass this, we will run out of... this isn't about the cash," McClellan said, explaining that the city has the cash but needs spending authority to cover increased salaries.

Council members questioned sanitation overtime (about half of the overtime budget used by late March), staffing and whether the transfers would require future adjustments. McClellan said she would follow up with more details on overtime usage.

Appropriation ordinance 20-25-05 de-appropriated several items that will be funded through the 2024 GO bond rather than in the operating budget and reallocated other funds for park maintenance and engineering priorities. Park Director Tim Street said the park projects are largely repair-and-replace maintenance with limited ongoing budget impact.

Council members discussed transparency and timing around GO-bond items and asked staff to improve clarity in future bond discussions. Both appropriation ordinances passed by roll-call votes, 9–0.

Outcome: Appropriation ordinances 20-25-04 and 20-25-05 adopted 9–0; staff to implement transfers and follow up with requested clarifications.