Public Safety Local Income Tax Committee, 260821

The City of Bloomington's Public Safety Local Income Tax Committee convened on August 24, 2026, to discuss the local income tax rates dedicated to public safety funding, particularly focusing on the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) dispatch center budget. City Controller Jeff McKim presented an overview of the current tax rates, revenue distributions, and the challenges posed by underfunding and upcoming legislative changes that will eliminate the current local income tax system by 2029. The committee reviewed three options to address a projected budget shortfall for the dispatch center: deappropriating unspent salary funds, utilizing county reserves, and increasing the local income tax rate to fully fund the budget. The committee discussed the implications of each option, including the need to maintain healthy reserves and the impact on taxpayers. Ultimately, the committee voted unanimously to recommend raising the public safety local income tax rate to ensure adequate funding for dispatch operations. The meeting also included budget reviews, discussions on staffing challenges, and coordination with county officials for future tax rate adjustments.