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City council budget hearing draws questions for Bloomington Transit on fare-free rides, geographic expansion

City council budget hearing draws questions for Bloomington Transit on fare-free rides, geographic expansion

At Tuesday’s hearing of Bloomington Transit’s proposed 2022 budget in front of the city council, BT’s general manager, Lew May, fielded a question he’s heard many years before, including last year. Has BT considered making the public bus service fare free? A new question this year:

Bloomington councilmembers want to consider paying police more in 2022, ahead of collective bargaining negotiations

Bloomington councilmembers want to consider paying police more in 2022, ahead of collective bargaining negotiations

A majority of Bloomington city councilmembers sound like they would support paying the city’s police officers more than the amount specified in the current collective bargaining agreement, which runs through 2022. That’s based on deliberations that took place Tuesday, the second of four nights of hearings by the

Bloomington city council critical on first night of 2022 budget hearings: police, parking, sidewalks

Bloomington city council critical on first night of 2022 budget hearings: police, parking, sidewalks

On Monday, the first night of departmental hearings on Bloomington mayor John Hamilton’s proposed 2022 budget, several city councilmembers conveyed their dissatisfaction about one or more aspects of next year’s financial plan. Those points of friction included police officer compensation, a parking cashout program for city employees, and

Bloomington 2022 budget revenues: Property tax levy up, local income tax down

Bloomington 2022 budget revenues: Property tax levy up, local income tax down

Last Friday, Bloomington mayor John Hamilton released his proposed 2022 budget. Compared to the 2021 budget, the combination of local income tax distributions and the general fund property tax levy nets out to about zero change for 2022 revenues. There’s an increase in the general fund property tax levy

Column | Bingo: If you want help listening to every last word during Bloomington’s 2022 budget hearings

Column | Bingo: If you want help listening to every last word during Bloomington’s 2022 budget hearings

Monday begins a series of four city council meetings on Bloomington’s proposed budget for 2022. It was last Friday when the proposed 2022 budget was released publicly by Bloomington mayor John Hamilton. City councilmembers will convene meetings on four successive nights, Monday through Thursday. Each meeting will start at

Bloomington’s 2020 census count: Plot (of dots) thickens for IU enrollments, dormitories

Bloomington’s 2020 census count: Plot (of dots) thickens for IU enrollments, dormitories

Ten days ago, when the news broke that Bloomington’s 2020 Census count had dropped, compared to the 2010 numbers, many residents reacted with disbelief. The leading theory for the 1.5-percent drop, from 80,405 to 79,168, is based on the fact that Bloomington is home to Indiana

2022 Bloomington budget released same day as encampment clearance, includes 6 new on-the-ground, non-sworn public safety positions

2022 Bloomington budget released same day as encampment clearance, includes 6 new on-the-ground, non-sworn public safety positions

Early in the day on Friday, an encampment of people experiencing homelessness under the B-Line bridge at Grimes Lane was cleared by Bloomington city workers. That was expected, based on Tuesday’s posting of notices near the encampment, with a Friday deadline for vacating. Later on Friday, Bloomington mayor John