The City of Bloomington City Council Votes to Adopt 2025 Civil City Budget

On Wednesday, Oct. 9, the City of Bloomington City Council voted unanimously to approve the $151 million 2025 Civil City Budget. The budget includes one amendment to eliminate a $250,000 allocation from the Parking Meter Fund to ensure compliance with allowable uses specified by ordinance.

“...I want to thank [the City’s Controller, Jessica McClellan] for all the hard work on this budget and I want to thank Deputy Mayor Gretchen Knapp and Mayor Kerry Thomson in listening to Council when we made our priorities known in the summer and, in particular, during and after the budget hearings in August,” said Councilmember Isabel Piedmont-Smith during the Oct. 9 Common Council Special Session regarding the outcome-based budgeting approach. “I think there was good, much better listening on both sides than in the past, and I am pleased with the budget we have before us and I'll be pleased to support it.”

The 2025 budget prioritizes the administration’s one-year goals, focusing on Human Resources policies and practices, including salary compensation and job classification, transparency and engagement initiatives, long-term budgeting and financial strategies, major project execution, and modernizing internal processes. Notably, $6 million has been allocated to implement the findings of a 2023 salary study, ensuring competitive compensation and job classification improvements across the city’s workforce.

The City Council and administration will continue working together, with a vote on salary ordinances for City employees, including police and fire personnel, expected on Wednesday, Oct. 30. This vote will ensure the City meets the Nov. 1 deadline required by Indiana law.

During the Sept. 25 Committee of the Whole meeting, Councilmember Matt Flaherty remarked, “I think overall this is the most productive period between budget hearings and adoption hearing that I've experienced as a councilmember.” 

“This budget is a direct result of countless conversations, community input, and a shared commitment between the administration and City Council to meet the needs of Bloomington residents,” says Mayor Kerry Thomson. “It reflects our city’s priorities and our outcomes-based approach. I am grateful for the Council’s partnership and for the hard work of our Cabinet.”

The City of Bloomington’s fiscal year begins January 1. The budget can be viewed at bloomington.in.gov/city/budget. ​