The Town of Normal on Monday approved a new budget that lowers spending amid a difficult-to-predict economy.
The town council unanimously adopted the new operating and capital investment budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year. City Manager Pam Reece said the plan hits the town’s financial targets, while still allowing for flexibility.
“If circumstances change one way or the other in terms of our revenue stream, we can tighten our belt more, or we can add more initiatives to our list,” said Reece.
The $211 million budget reflects about 5% less in spending than the previous budget, a change necessitated by a drop in revenue.
Previously, the town said budget cuts will address most of the problem, but also will rely on some excess reserves.
Areas seeing cuts include parks and recreation facilities, some road work and extra payments for pensions.
Illinois Art Station
The council also approved a resolution accepting a donation of land, building and organizational assets from the Illinois Art Station. The nonprofit organization has operated at 101 E. Vernon Ave. since 2021, along with a residency in the Children’s Discovery Museum art studio since 2023.
The move will put the Town of Normal in charge of oversight of the organization. Property transitions will be completed in April.
“Investing in our infrastructure and doing our capital investments is critical to having strong sewers, water mains, roads, sidewalks. That’s all very, very important stuff, but it’s not what you think about when you think about places that you like to visit,” said Reece.
Under the agreement, the town will maintain art-education programming for 75% of programming time for the next 20 years. Facilities and grounds can be used for other community purposes during that time period. The town also agreed to retain the property and use it for community purposes for the next 70 years.
“They had amazing, beautiful assets they had invested in, and they’re just handing it to us to do something more with,” said Beth Whisman, the town’s cultural arts director.
Sanitary sewer lining
The council also authorized a contract with Hoerr Construction for almost $1.5 million, related to the sanitary sewer master plan. The contract is cheaper than the engineer’s estimate as well as the other bid for the project by several hundred thousand dollars.
Police complaint
Nate Anderson spoke during public comment about an encounter he had with Normal Police last month. He said three officers confronted him in response to an anonymous report of a mental health crisis.
He said the officers aggressively confronted him, an ambulance blocked his driveway, EMTs pressured him to go to the hospital and told him that it was “town policy” to do so.
“I was not a danger to myself or others. I was not in crisis. I was not under arrest, but I was treated as if I had no rights, “ said Anderson. “If this is standard procedure, then something is deeply wrong.”
