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Budget planning ramps up in Normal

Pam Reece
Emma Shores
/
WGLT
Normal City Manager Pam Reece

The Town of Normal will continue to focus on debt reduction as part of its budgeting priorities next year. City Manager Pam Reece said that's part of a draft plan heading to the town council for a work session on Wednesday.

"Our initial debt, I believe was about $92 million when we did Uptown. By the end of fiscal year 22-23 we will be down to about $71 million in principal," said Reece.

On top of road, water, and sewer infrastructure maintenance and repair, Reece said the town plans some capital improvements to aging buildings and parks and recreation investment such as pickle ball court renovation.

The new fiscal year starts in April.

Reece said the town's new data portal that opened this week is just the first step in transforming public access, adding future additions will improve transparency.

"It could potentially be Freedom of Information Act information that people have requested. We're also looking at what information each department has. What are people asking for through FOIA? So what does it make sense to push out in a proactive way," said Reece.

The initial data portal includes police reports, housing inspection reports, building permit filings, and interactive budget and financial information.

WGLT Senior Reporter Charlie Schlenker has spent more than three award-winning decades in radio. He lives in Normal with his family.
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