Mayor Thomson Traveling Town Hall, October 5, 2026

At the City of Bloomington mayoral town hall on October 5, 2026, Mayor Thomson and a city council member discussed the ongoing budget process. Council amendments and proposed cuts are under consideration, with another budget hearing scheduled; no budget vote or procurement award was reported. The mayor said funding for planning studies—including the Kirkwood corridor and safe routes to school—may be cut, while emphasizing that completed plans are often required to compete for state and federal grants. The city is also identifying parks capital priorities and plans to apply for a share of a statewide $400 million parks grant. The city utility has received a $2.3 million EPA grant to address issues related to water-system reliability.

The mayor reported that the city’s high-speed fiber project remains delayed after a stop-work order was issued last spring because of contractor problems, including unreported damage to sewer lines; the city says it remains committed to completing the project with Meridiam, but gave no timeline. The city said its automatic license plate reader (ALPR) contract expired and was not renewed, and that it has communicated that other contracts will not be renewed; it plans to retain separate security cameras, which officials said have assisted in solving two shootings. Other capital updates included due diligence on a Hopewell building renovation and addition intended to house dispatch and emergency operations, and progress on the first phase of Hopewell South, planned for 98 homes. No new contract awards or spending votes were identified.