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Bloomington Alderman Praises Growing Library Service As Tax Rate Edges Down

Charlie Schlenker
/
WGLT

Bloomington Alderman Scott Black has praised library staff, even though the property tax rate for the library portion of the levy increased slightly.

The rate for the entire city including the library fell slightly.

Alderman Black said he supports library plans to add a technology outreach person to go to remote locations and teach people about job searches and other computer functions, just as he supported expansion of west side bookmobile service.

"I want to be here to say that I want you to take a risk on some of our historic neighborhoods in Bloomington. Those were left out and I don't think it was for nefarious reasons. But, because when you send a bookmobile out and people don't show up, some people might see that as a waste. But, I don't," said Black.

There is also planning money for a potential library expansion in the plan.

"It's key to growing community. And as we do that, I like the idea of these laptop drops going out in the community, helping people, maybe build resumes, get jobs,
find out how to use the internet more effectively," said Black.

The owner of an average 160,000-dollar-home in Bloomington will pay about a dollar less in property taxes because of the levy approved by the council.

Only the portion of the levy going to the public library rose, and not much, about three cents per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation.

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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