Bloomington council rejects $2.5M general-fund cut, withholds millions for housing and parking in 2027 budget

According to bsquarebulletin.com, Bloomington City Council on Oct. 7, 2026, rejected a proposal to cut $2.5 million from the city’s proposed 2027 general fund and approved targeted amendments that withheld funding for housing development and parking projects. The council’s actions came during review of a proposed 2027 city budget totaling about $171.4 million across all city funds (excluding CBU and Bloomington Transit).

The council considered a roughly $63.7 million general fund for 2027. An amendment removing $3 million in appropriations from the housing development fund passed 6–1 (Councilmember Courtney Daily opposed). A separate proposal, called Amendment 16 from Councilmember Asare, failed 2–5 (supported only by Asare and Matt Flaherty); that amendment would have reduced the general fund to about $61.2 million. Council-approved changes included roughly $5.5 million in removed spending authority for housing and parking, more than $6 million in total targeted cuts across six amendments, a $10,000 cut to mayoral branding implementation and elimination of $104,683 in salary funding for a vacant transportation demand manager post.

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