Bloomington City Council approves $248M 2024 Budget
The Bloomington City Council approved the $248 million city budget for 2024. This includes just over $131 million for the civil City, a combined $98 million for Utilities, Transit, and Housing Authority, and an additional $19 million in one-time appropriations from the Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the former Community Revitalization and Enhancement District (CRED) funds. Excluding the one-time appropriations, the adopted 2024 budget is a 1.4% increase over 2023 and a nearly 1% decrease for civil City and the 3 authorities respectively and including the one-time appropriations an overall increase of 7.6% from 2023.
This 2024 budget includes:
- investments in the city workforce, including a 5% cost-of-living increase and a $500 recovery bonus for most non-union staff (with unionized staff receiving their negotiated rates); extending benefit increases in pensions, health savings accounts, paid family leave, continuing-education tuition supports, and health services including reimbursements for out-of-state reproductive health care; and the addition of 32 new full-time-equivalent positions;
- investments in public safety through increasing salaries for all sworn firefighters beyond the labor contract in place and for probationary police officers, as well as implementation of planned investment in the new public safety headquarters in Showers West and three major fire facilities;
- nearly $20 million in one-time investments in infrastructure, including additional funding for sidewalks, streets serving transit and bicycle routes, the federal Safe Streets for All program, traffic signal improvements; affordable housing; jobs and sustainability initiatives; diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging projects and programs; and public health.
After the Council voted to adopt the budget and personnel ordinances, Mayor Hamilton and Council members recognized and honored City Controller Jeff Underwood, who plans to retire at the end of the year, thanking him for his 25 years of service to the city and for developing and managing 14 annual city budgets as Controller, maintaining strong fiscal health while helping make unprecedented investments in our future.
Arts Commission expands Creative Aging programming, funding to arts organizations
The Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) announced today an expansion of Lifelong Arts, a program that promotes arts and creativity services for older adults across the state, through a partnership with the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) and E.A. Michelson Philanthropy.
Lifelong Arts for Arts Organizations is an expansion of the IAC’s portfolio of opportunities for the state’s older adults. Lifelong Arts for Arts Organizations joins existing programs for artists and aging services providers in partnership with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration Division of Aging to offer creative experiences for older adults. Four arts organizations will be selected to participate in Lifelong Arts for Arts Organizations, forming a cohort that together will learn and grow in creative aging practice — ultimately becoming leaders and mentors sharing with others what they’ve learned.
Organizations selected for this program will receive up to $20,000 to participate in training and develop and implement a robust pilot creative aging program. Arts organizations best suited for this opportunity regularly provide arts education activities, including hosting classes on or off-site, and provide access and services to underserved communities. Successful applicants will have the ability, infrastructure, experience, and expertise to establish a creative aging program as part of their ongoing efforts. Read the full guidelines.
Applications for Lifelong Arts for Arts Organizations are due on October 13, 2023. Access the application. Learn more about Lifelong Arts Indiana.
Indiana State Police Seeks Recruits for the 85th Recruit Academy
The Indiana State Police is accepting applications for the 85th Recruit Academy for traditional and lateral applicants. Individuals interested in beginning a rewarding career as an Indiana State Trooper must apply online at IndianaTrooper.com. This website provides a detailed synopsis of the application process and information on additional career opportunities with the Indiana State Police. Applications must be submitted electronically by 11:59 pm (EST) on Thursday, October 19, 2023.
Probationary Troopers graduating from the 85th Recruit Academy, who successfully complete their Field Training Officer (FTO) program, receive a $5,000.00 dollar one-time cash bonus (taxable) in addition to their regular salary.
Included Benefits:
- Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits during the academy and probationary year.
- Military and Law Enforcement service purchase options. Service Purchase Calculator
- NEW take-home patrol vehicle issued after completing the FTO period (includes off-duty use).
- Uniforms and over $9,000 of NEW equipment are issued at no cost.
- 3 hours of on-duty physical training per week.
- 40 paid days of leave annually and 150 hours of New Parent Leave.
- Health/Vision/Dental and Life Insurance options for actives and retirees.
- Lifetime pension and deferred compensation w/State matching.
- Endless Opportunities and Career Advancement.
Interested applicants can obtain additional information about an Indiana State Trooper career by visiting IndianaTrooper.com Applicants can also contact a recruiter at isprecruiting@isp.in.gov. Scannable QR codes shown in the attachment below.
Bloomington Symphony Orchestra kicks off season at Buskirk Chumley Theatre
Sunday, October 22, 5pm at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater – Reserve your seats today
Intermedio from La boda de Luis Alonso – Giménez
Concierto de Aranjuez – Rodrigo
featuring guitarist Carlos Bedoya
“Canción de la Paloma” from El Barbarillo de Lavapiés– Barbieri
featuring mezzo-soprano Arienne Fort Cannock
“De España vengo” from El niño judío– Luna featuring mezzo-soprano Arienne Fort Cannock
Danzas fantásticas– Turina
Selections from Suite Española – Albéniz
Spanish Dance No. 1 from La Vida Breve – Falla
Come early for an enticing (and informative) appetizer!
At 4:00 pm, join us for a pre-concert talk led by Dr. Christine Wisch. Like the country itself, Spain’s musical traditions are rich and diverse, but today’s audiences rarely have the opportunity to hear Spanish masterworks in concert. In this talk, Dr. Wisch explores some of the challenges of performing orchestral repertoire from Spain and offers an introduction to the many styles and genres of music represented in the BSO’s program. The half-hour talk briefly touches upon the lives of the composers and situates their music within the broader, better-known history of European art music. From the Aragonese jota to the Basque zortiko, Dr. Wisch will serve as your guide through the dances and musical influences that make up this orchestral program, which includes gems from the zarzuela tradition as well as arrangements of some of Spain’s most beloved masterpieces.
Tickets: $25 Adults, $12 Students, Free 18 & under
Get your tickets for this concert as part of the BSO Season Pass.
Tickets for Bloomington Symphony 4 season concerts at the BCT are now available for purchase!
SEASON TICKET HOLDER PERKS – save 12% off list priceBSO stickermembers-only newslettersQ&A with Maestro Isaac Terceros (this Sun, Oct 15, 4pm via zoom, so get your season tickets TODAY!), Aadmission to dress rehearsals (next Thurs, Oct 19, 7pm)
This Week in Hoosier History
2016 – The Indiana Bicentennial Torch finished its journey through the state as it came to the “Hoosier Homecoming Day” celebration at the Statehouse. It had been carried by hundreds of Hoosiers through all 92 counties. Ceremonies at the Statehouse were held in the new Bicentennial Plaza as thousands came to celebrate the state’s 200th birthday. Governor Mike Pence was on hand, as well as enactors for Territorial Governor William Henry Harrison and former Governors Jonathan Jennings and William Hendrix.
For more local news . . . Check out our archived episodes of What’s Happenin’ and Talkin’ Sports with Nick Jenkinson