Committee adopts 4% placeholder for 2026 budget as health insurance costs rise

The Village of Bloomington Finance & Purchase Committee on Sept. 23 set a 4% across-the-board placeholder for most 2026 budget expense lines as officials work to finalize revenue estimates and respond to rising insurance costs.

Clerk/Treasurer Shawna Atterbury presented the initial budget draft and told the committee she had entered state shared revenue and personal property tax aid but that many revenue figures were not yet available. Because those revenues are incomplete, committee members agreed to review and set expense-side placeholders first, using 4% as a starting point for most budget items.

That decision followed Atterbury’s report that Medical Associates health insurance rates will increase 18.4%, raising the village’s current monthly premium from $2,233 to $2,633.19. Atterbury said the single-coverage deductible would rise from $6,000 to $6,500 and the family deductible to $13,000; she also noted the plan reduces some out-of-pocket costs, including bringing primary-care visit copays down from $35 to $20.

On revenue, the clerk said mobile-home fee collections have already reached $2,000 for the year versus a $500 budget, and she warned that grant and loan proceeds tied to construction are not expected to recur. Atterbury also reported that sewer revenue will be affected by a roughly 30% rate increase and that water revenue will change following a separate water-rate adjustment; Jay Bennett — referenced in the discussion as assisting with revenue calculations — had offered to help estimate meter revenue.

Committee members adjusted several line items in response: the police-services budget was increased from $5,300 to $6,000, office and clerk miscellaneous expense lines were revised with clerk miscellaneous set at $2,500 and office expenses reduced to $7,500, and the committee held the equipment expenditure line at $10,000 while discussing a possible $12,500 lawnmower purchase with $10,000 financed similarly to a prior skid-steer deal. Fire protection and hydrant rental costs were reported at $68,000 for 2026 based on information from Jay Bennett.

Library spending was also revised: the committee noted the library had already spent $5,200 on books and raised the books line to $7,000 while reducing library miscellaneous to $8,000; the history-room budget was set at $550 amid questions about reimbursement processes between the history-room fund and library accounts.

The committee asked staff to clarify a few contract and service items, including whether contractor Roy Quick’s snow-removal agreement is a one- or two-year contract and whether he would continue at the same rate of $150 per hour per machine. The group also noted that Republic has acquired the prior garbage service provider, a change that will require updates to garbage and recycling contract terms.

Atterbury outlined the remaining schedule for the budget process: employee wage discussions are to happen at the October board meeting in closed session; the proposed budget must be submitted to the newspaper by Oct. 13–14 to meet the 15-day public-notice requirement for a hearing; the public hearing could be held during the Nov. 3 board meeting; and the budget needs approval by Dec. 1 so property-tax bills can be mailed by Dec. 15.

A motion to approve the meeting agenda passed unanimously at the start of the session. The committee adjourned at the meeting’s close after a member moved to adjourn and Al Mergen seconded the motion.