Reps. Brady, Sommers discuss state funding with Bloomington council

Feb 23, 2010 — The Pantagraph

M.K. Guetersloh

Feb. 23, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- BLOOMINGTON -- As Bloomington wrestles with $2 million less from its share in state money, the City Council sat down with local legislators to talk about funding, pensions and workers' compensation costs.

State Reps. Dan Brady and Keith Sommers covered a range of topics with the council during the work session Monday.

City Manager David Hales said the discussion was important because state funding is an important piece to the city's budget.

At its regular session later Monday, the council approved $2 million in budget cuts to its $77 million general fund. Those cuts were necessary because money from the city's portion of the income tax and local use tax is about $1.5 million less than anticipated. A drop in the city's utility tax income adds $500,000.

Brady, a Republican from Bloomington, said the state's budget has a roughly $12 billion to $13 billion gap and the General Assembly is waiting for Gov. Pat Quinn's budget address which has been moved to March 10.

"We need to hear the budget address -- as difficult as it is going to be to hear -- so that everyone from school districts to municipalities knows where state funding stands so they can prepare their budgets," Brady said.

In other discussion, Ward 8 Alderman John Hanson mentioned police and fire pension funding. The city recently increased its tax levy by $2 million to cover the increase in police, fire and Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund contributions.

"Do you think anyone in Springfield is taking the pension problems seriously?" Hanson asked.

Sommers, a Republican from Morton, said the issue may find a champion in the city of Chicago because it is struggling with funding its employee pensions as well.

"If it was just downstate, the discussion might not happen," Sommers said.

Other discussion included how costs of workers' compensation benefits can be prohibitive in bringing in new business to the state. The council also took the opportunity to thank the state legislators for their efforts to help the city fund a recycle truck, the fire department's training tower and the resurfacing portions of Lincoln Street and Ireland Grove Road.

The council also asked if Brady and Sommers could help the city with pending issues such as redevelopment of the railroad yards south of Seminary Street and west of Lee Street and the replacement of the Union Pacific's bridge at Market Street. The bridge is part of the proposed high-speed rail line between Chicago and St. Louis.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0166-42282348