By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington City Manager Tim Gleason said on Tuesday he has his “marching orders” from the city council to hold the line on property taxes.
The council Tuesday night voted unanimously to approve the staff’s tax levy estimate for next year, which should keep tax bills about the same as this year’s tax bills. Final action is expected at the council’s December 9 meeting.
The city would collect about $20.5 million in property taxes next year, while Bloomington Public Library would collect $4.9 million.
Both levies are up from the previous year because of modest gains in taxable land values.
Mayor Tari Renner noted property taxes paid to the city have been flat every year since 2008.
“To the extent that there’s more money paid into it is because we’ve got new development,” Renner said.
“There is growth, and again strength in property values in the City of Bloomington,” said Gleason.
City Finance Director Scott Rathbun projected taxable land values will rise 1.31 percent next year. Bloomington would see a $225,000 revenue increase that staffers say would help pay for rising infrastructure costs, while the library would gain $64,000.
The city government and library represent 15 percent of a property owner’s tax bill in Bloomington.
“We understand that’s a very important 15 percent, potentially, for the residents of Bloomington,” Gleason said.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
