The 2026 budget and our path forward: Prioritizing what matters most

By Mayor Tim Busse

Each year the City Council approves a budget to fund City services such as Public Safety, Public Works, and Parks and Recreation. This year, like many other organizations in Minnesota and around the country, the City of Bloomington is facing budget challenges. City staff are navigating these challenges by looking for ways to prioritize what matters most like the services that have the greatest impact on the community.

What’s driving the budget pressure?

• Expiring funding sources.

• Rising costs of goods and services.

• Aging infrastructure and facilities.

Shifting to Priority-Based Budgeting

To navigate these pressures, the City is implementing Priority-Based Budgeting—a set of government finance best practices to help:

• Evaluate all City programs based on outcomes and community value.

• Align resources with the Bloomington. Tomorrow. Together. strategic plan priorities.

• Increase transparency and accountability.

• Make data-driven, strategic decisions.

What you need to know

• We’re committed to understanding the impacts of these budget decisions on the community.

• We’ll use resident feedback, data and new tools to make strategic, sustainable decisions.

• Final decisions rest with the City Council, with guidance from City staff and the new budgeting model.

Stay informed at blm.mn/budget.

Final budget decisions will be made by the City Council on December 22.