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Local Government

Articles in this section cover Bloomington city council, the mayor's office, Monroe County's board of commissioners, county council, and all the other local units.

Monroe County election board: 1,075 absentee ballots issued as registration deadline looms

Monroe County election board: 1,075 absentee ballots issued as registration deadline looms

Monroe County election officials reported 1,075 absentee ballots issued as the Nov. 3 election approaches. Voter registration closes Oct. 5, with early voting starting Oct. 6. A Sept. 30 town hall will be held for Ellettsville–Richland voters on the proposed government reorganization.

Lilliana Young launches 2027 bid for Bloomington city council at-large seat

Lilliana Young launches 2027 bid for Bloomington city council at-large seat

Lilliana Young will seek a Democratic nomination for Bloomington city council in 2027, less than five months after challenging state Rep. Matt Pierce. Young, a democratic socialist, is campaigning on housing, infrastructure, human rights and opposition to surveillance technology.

Monroe County adds $35K for encampment cleanup, $50K for patrols, $162K for housing

Monroe County adds $35K for encampment cleanup, $50K for patrols, $162K for housing

Monroe County commissioners approved more spending tied to homelessness Thursday: $35,000 for Powerline Camp cleanup, up to $50,000 for security patrols, and $162,379 for Heading Home’s direct-to-housing initiative

New members join CIB, CVC as Bloomington convention center approaches operational handoff

New members join CIB, CVC as Bloomington convention center approaches operational handoff

Two Monroe County convention-related boards added members this month as the convention center expansion nears completion. The CIB also approved up to $296,000 in added limestone-support costs, while the CVC reviewed the shift to CIB oversight and new bookings for the expanded center.

Monroe County council adds $1M in support for Beacon Center to proposed 2027 budget, after $4M financing setback

Monroe County council adds $1M in support for Beacon Center to proposed 2027 budget, after $4M financing setback

Monroe County’s proposed 2027 budget now includes $1 million in ED LIT money for Beacon Inc.’s planned West 3rd Street housing and shelter complex, helping fill a $4 million financing gap that forced the nonprofit to split construction into two phases.

CBU fills in some details behind countywide boil-water advisory, including 1.06 NTU reading

CBU fills in some details behind countywide boil-water advisory, including 1.06 NTU reading

A power outage and equipment failures at Bloomington’s water plant led to a brief turbidity violation and countywide boil-water advisory. The measurement showing levels too high came about 5 p.m. Saturday, and fell below the limit by 6 p.m. It was not announced to the public until 12:04 a.m. Sunday.

Monroe County local income tax group mulls shared municipal rate approach

Monroe County local income tax group mulls shared municipal rate approach

Monroe County’s MUST ended its first meeting without recommending a local income tax rate. But members showed support for a shared municipal-services approach that could let Bloomington replace revenue a city-only rate could not. Bloomington Transit funding is an open question.