Other: Please share with council ahead of tonight’s budget hearing: The “updated” budget released by administration does nothing for non-unionized, regular employees. These are the people who rely on council to advocate for them because they are not protected and eligible to negotiate via a representative. Instead they have to silently watch their continual fate because their bosses are in control of their pay without discussion every year via the administration’s budget. For a quarter of a billion dollar budget, the focus is not on the regular citizen or employee who in turn is the backbone of the local economy. In order for the budget to be as “progressive” as the administration claims, why do we not see a 9% minimum wage bump for those below pay grade 9 to adequately address stagnant wage growth. If you make what the mayor and his department heads make, 5% is great because they’re at almost 6-figures and above in pay. This information is public and is continually ignored by all hiring processes and “initiatives” by admin to recruit and retain employees. When you keep the majority of employees in low pay grades and will not adjust wages accordingly in times of high inflation or value education and experience, your administration keeps cycles of poverty ongoing. Questions have been raised that need addressed: what is the difference between the highest paid full-time salary worker and the lowest paid full-time salary worker?, how many employees live within city limits versus outside of city limits? How many employees in city limits have ownership of their home versus how many who live in city limits are renting? These questions provide information that shed light on the lack of wage to keep up with the cost of living in this city. The highest paid workers, including the mayor, are the only ones afforded the ability to own a home in city limits and utilize all services fully. This budget is tone-deaf and shows how only unionized worker groups and sections of city workers are valued - why do all employees not have access to assistance with home ownership or rent? Our neighbors in the county still are working for better wages, however they also have the privilege of more holidays per year, a clinic, and most employees work an hour less per day as the county closes at 4pm. Why does the city think it is acceptable to tell folks that one should accept a low wage because ‘benefits’ when the benefits aren’t reflective of “an employer of choice”? Bloomington should be more than matching the county but now you cannot keep up. Citizens and workers are asking of council to uphold our worth and advocate for actual, beneficial change. No one questions the ordinances for council and admin’s wage growth but the regular employee is forgotten.

Assigned to

Stephen Lucas