Sign in Subscribe

Dave Askins

Dave Askins

Bloomington, Indiana

Dave Askins is editor and publisher of The B Square Bulletin. A Hoosier native with a background in math and linguistics, he previously co-founded the Ann Arbor Chronicle with his wife, Mary Morgan.

Analysis | Setting salaries in Bloomington city government: Unpacking roles of mayor, council, clerk

Analysis | Setting salaries in Bloomington city government: Unpacking roles of mayor, council, clerk

Thursday was the fourth day in a row for the Bloomington city council to hear from different units within the city about their 2025 budget proposals. Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson had released the proposed budget the previous week. The week’s presentations included all the departments of the city as

Bloomington, IU leaders celebrate $16M Lilly Endowment award to support Trades District development

Bloomington, IU leaders celebrate $16M Lilly Endowment award to support Trades District development

At a Thursday gathering that filled the event space at The Mill, leaders from Bloomington and Indiana University celebrated a $16 million award from Lilly Endowment Inc. The money is designated for collaborative projects involving The Mill, the Trades District, and Indiana University. The first announcement of the $16 million

Public meetings on future of Bean Blossom fire protection show uncertainty about cost, procedure

Public meetings on future of Bean Blossom fire protection show uncertainty about cost, procedure

Three public meetings this week at Bean Blossom’s community center have wrapped up with some uncertainty about the costs and the procedures that are related to a change in fire protection for the township. Bean Blossom’s fire department is the only one remaining in Monroe County that is

Rezone denied again by Monroe County for land south of Bloomington, near Clear Creek

Rezone denied again by Monroe County for land south of Bloomington, near Clear Creek

On Monday night, a proposed residential project that would have seen development of 136 lots on about 42 acres south of Bloomington outside of the city limits, was denied its requested rezone by county commissioners. The lots were to have included a mix of single-family houses, duplexes, triplexes and

Hearing on 0.2% Monroe County jail income tax set for Sept. 16, paired with brief drop in related rate

Hearing on 0.2% Monroe County jail income tax set for Sept. 16, paired with brief drop in related rate

Monroe County councilors have set the stage for formal public input on a proposed increase of the jail LIT (local income tax), by authorizing an advertised rate of 0.2 percent for a public hearing on Sept. 16. That is the maximum rate for the jail LIT that can be

Local income tax notebook: Who gets what slice of the pie?

Local income tax notebook: Who gets what slice of the pie?

On Tuesday night, Monroe County councilors will be trying to arrive at a consensus on funding a new jail. If that turns out not to be possible, then support from at least four out of seven councilors will be enough to deal with the funding dilemma. That means finding up

$10M in reserves key to balancing 2025 Bloomington draft budget, but GO bonds unveiled as option

$10M in reserves key to balancing 2025 Bloomington draft budget, but GO bonds unveiled as option

The proposed $145.4 million budget for 2025, which was released by Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson last week, relies on $10 million in general fund reserves. That’s a fact that is included, if not highlighted, in the 383-page budget book. Page 23 shows about $68.45 million in