The proposed budget totals about $370.5 million, a 6.8% increase from last year. It includes a 38% increase in the capital budget for infrastructure projects and a 0.71% increase in the general fund.
City Manager Jeff Jurgens introduced the presentation from Finance Director Scott Rathbun, who outlined how the data was compiled.
“It’s a very rigorous line-item review, and it sets us up to get to this point,” Rathbun said.
Jurgens said water infrastructure projects are the primary reason for the overall increase.
“We have $81.9 million, a historic amount, in planned water capital projects for fiscal year 2027,” Jurgens said. “These are projects mandated by the federal and state governments that we have to complete. We’ve been planning for them.”
Jergens mentioned that without the water projects, the budget would decrease by 3.5% from last year.
“We are really trying to put the focus of the budget where the public is going to see it,” Jurgens said.
After the presentation, several council members asked clarifying questions, including Ward 8 Council member Kent Lee, who asked how the city prioritizes the listed projects.
“For the enterprise funds specifically, we rely on the expertise of those directors,” Rathbun said.
Jurgens said the city does not want to see continued dramatic increases in future budgets.
“We’re going to have another high budget next year, but our hope is to spend resources as frugally as possible and keep the budget as low as possible,” Jurgens said. “We’ll have projects that we have to do, but it shouldn’t be overall operations just continuing to grow.”
The budget will be refined over the next month before going to the council for approval.
The Bloomington City Council meets at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month.
