Bloomington's mayor has a concern about Connect Transit taking on rural transportation in McLean County after the county ended its agreement with Show Bus, saying he doesn't want the new initiative to detract from existing services.
"Connect Transit by definition is supposed to serve the Bloomington-Normal community. We have an intergovernmental agreement with them. That is something we will have to evaluate," said Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe.
Mwilambwe said he has concerns about cost and the time spent on two separate missions blurring together.
"I would a little bit. Sometimes you have to set some clear boundaries so that in the day-to-day of people doing things, that things don't start creeping up," said Mwilambwe, adding any revision to the current agreement will have to be carefully considered.
Earlier this year, McLean County pulled out of its agreement with Show Bus for low-cost rural transportation starting next summer. The Chenoa-based company provides rural service in nine Central Illinois counties. The county has chosen Connect Transit to take over the service.
The transit agency needs to get approval from both the city and the Town of Normal because of the existing intergovernmental agreements.
Recently, Connect Transit Managing Director David Braun said the funding formula for transit will begin to strain bus services around the state over the next three years and could, without state action, result in service cuts.
There also is a projected $3 billion state budget deficit next year that could make new transit funding a difficult vote for lawmakers. The climate in Washington, D.C., also makes new money for transit uncertain. Yet, Mwilambwe said this does not suggest any change in plans to move forward with a downtown bus transfer station.
“I don't think so necessarily, because the funds are there. We have to see that to completion. Remember that also includes a parking garage. I think we might have to do some things a little bit differently, a little cheaper,” he said.
State budget
In past tight state budget situations, lawmakers have sometimes eyed municipal shares of income and sales tax money as potential ways to fill state gaps. Mwilambwe said it’s still unclear whether municipalities will have to fight to retain that money.
“I hope not. We did before, to try to get an increase. We'll definitely have to see what happens there. Certainly, we'll make our voices heard because at the local level, this is where we deliver the services, and I think it is important for us to be able to provide those services to the members of our communities,” said Mwilambwe.
Tax levy
City of Bloomington staff have laid out three options for next year's tax levy. Keeping the tax rate the same would generate about $2 million more. That involves keeping the property tax rate for Bloomington steady. A second option would bring in about $4.575 million in new money. Another choice would increase revenue by $4 million by returning to the property tax rate from two years ago.
"That is the option the staff has recommended because we're going to face some increased costs next year because of pension funding in terms of public safety," said Mwilambwe.
The city estimates the value of all the property in Bloomington will rise by about 10% for the year.
"I tend to favor a middle of the road approach which is what I had favored last year. It allows us to capture some of the growth," said Mwilambwe.
Last year, the city council opted to reduce the rate slightly. The city council will finalize a levy and tax rate next month, ahead of the end-of-year deadline.
