By Adam Studzinski

BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington City Council has approved a $207 million budget for Fiscal Year 2017.

The balanced budget passed by a 6-2 vote Monday night, with Aldermen Kevin Lower and Jim Fruin voting “no.”

It’s the first budget Fruin has voted against. He’s been on the council a total of 17 years, dating back to 1995.

“I think as a group we have to do better to identify expense management,” said Fruin. “We’ve talked about it and talked about it and I just don’t see us acting on it.”

Lower said the city should do a better job prioritizing its spending.

“I think it is beyond comprehension that we can continue to raise these fees and taxes on the backs of the folks that are the working poor,” said Lower. “And that’s exactly what we’re doing here.”

Alderman Scott Black liked the budget. He said this is probably the smoothest budget process the city has had during his time on the council.

In other business Monday, the council voted to support the Illinois Department of Transportation’s application for a federal economic development grant which would help fund improvements on U.S. 51 from Olive Street to College Avenue.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].