By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington mayor Tari Renner defended the city’s intentions to pull out of the city’s far-west side tax-sharing agreement with Normal during a WJBC mayoral roundtable, but several opponents offered differing views.

The city announced its intentions to terminate the Metro Zone contract it signed with Normal in 1986.

PODCAST: Listen to the WJBC mayoral roundtable here

Renner said the city has been exploring alternative arrangements with the town in recent years after it was clear the zone, which came into being after the Mitsubishi Motors plant opened, had become obsolete.

“One of which could have been to eliminate the payments to Normal but not terminate the Metro Zone until the end of the year and that was something that was not acceptable to them,” Renner said. “We have gone back and forth with them, so this should not come as a surprise.

Two candidates called for a continued negotiations.

“I would support an agreement if there was a one year suspension of financial considerations while we either revise the agreement that’s currently in place a new agreement,” alderwoman Diana Hauman said.

Retired firefighter Robert Fike suggested the city was moving too quickly.

“You’ve got to compromise and one of the things we can compromise on is maybe take it out a further year or two before we end it,” Fike said.

Alderman Kevin Lower said the contract need to be reworked.

“Anytime you get into an intergovernmental agreement and it lasts for periods of time that outlive the folks that actually wrote it at times and certainly their time in leadership positions, we have to go back and revisit it,” Lower said.

Bloomington officials have said the city faced a $7 million funding gap with Normal based on taxes generated in that area.

A fifth candidate, Ian Bayne, did not attend the forum.

The primary election is Tuesday.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].