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From YouTube: Bloomington Today: The BUZZ November 25
Description
The latest on City facility closures, services you can access online and a new COVID-19 testing site opens in Bloomington.
A
Welcome
to
bloomington
today,
I'm
emily
taplin
thanks
for
joining
us.
We
bring
you
the
buzz
for
the
week
of
november
25th
through
december.
8Th
city
buildings
are
currently
closed
to
the
public.
The
city
made
this
decision
to
align
with
the
governor's
four-week
dial
back,
which
pauses
social
activities,
in-person
dining
sports
and
fitness
facilities
until
december
18th,
along
with
civic,
plaza,
bloomington
ice
garden
and
center
for
the
arts,
will
also
be
closed
until
at
least
then
for
a
full
list
of
what's
open
and
closed
head
to
the
web
address
on
your
screen.
A
There
are
a
number
of
city
services
you
can
access
online,
including
utility
billing,
for
a
full
list
of
options
head
to
blm.mn
online.
The
minnesota
department
of
health
has
opened
a
new
covid19
testing
site
in
bloomington.
It's
located
at
ridgeview
elementary,
which
is
located
at
9400,
nesbitt
avenue
south.
To
avoid
long
waits
pre-registration
is
requested.
A
A
The
city
council
wants
to
hear
from
residents
and
businesses
ahead
of
finalizing
the
2021
tax
levy
and
budget
on
monday
december
7th
at
7
pm.
The
council
will
hold
its
annual
truth
in
taxation
public
hearing
via
webex
this
year.
The
city
is
faced
with
a
multi-million
dollar
shortfall
due
to
covet
19.
in
may.
The
city
formed
a
community
budget
advisory
committee
to
help
determine
how
to
balance
the
budget.
They
have
proposed
three
tax
levy
options,
including
a
five
percent
increase,
a
three
percent
increase
or
zero
percent.
B
There's
still
big
cuts,
so
even
with
the
five
percent
tax
levy
increase,
there's
about
1.5
million
of
budget
reductions
that
are
necessary
and
if,
with
a
zero
percent,
tax
levy,
increase
it's
close
to
five
million
dollars
of
budget
reduction.
So
these
different
ideas
have
been
prioritized
so
that
to
try
to
reflect
the
community's
feedback
and
preferences
on
what
they
value
to
come
with
a
budget
that
serves
the
citizens.
B
The
council's
strategic
priority
of
engagement
and
transparency
was
really
brought
into
action
this
year
with
the
budget
process,
which
is
really
the
first
time
that
we've
really
engaged
the
public
in
decisions
about
the
services
of
the
city
and
how
they're
reflected
in
the
budget,
and
we
had
community
listing
sessions.
In
september
and
october.
We
also
launched
the
let's
talk:
bloomington
digital
engagement
platform.
B
We
also
got
feedback,
and
so
that
was
very
helpful
and
also
just
having
the
community
budget
advisory
committee
of
appointed
residents
that
were
reflecting
their
communities
and
really
letting
us
know
what
was
important
to
them
with
city
services.
And
so
the
december
7th
public
hearing
is
really
a
continuation
of
that
engagement
and
hearing
from
the
public.
And
if
they're,
if
they
haven't,
have
an
opportunity
to
weigh
in
yet
that
we'd
like
to
hear
from
them.
A
For
information
on
how
to
participate
or
view
the
budget
proposals
in
full
head
to
the
web
address
listed
on
your
screen.
If
you're
a
homeowner
or
a
renter,
you
may
qualify
for
a
property
tax
refund
from
the
state.
The
state
has
a
program
where,
based
on
income
and
the
amount
of
property
taxes,
you
may
qualify
for
a
refund
visit.
The
web
address
on
your
screen
for
additional
details.
A
That
is
the
buzz
on
bloomington
today
for
the
week
of
november
25th
through
december
8th.
If
you
would
like
to
watch
other
stories
from
the
show
go
to
this
week's
playlist,
there
you'll
find
a
city
council
member
shares
her
covet
19
story,
plus
the
impacts
of
cobin
19
on
the
bloomington
police
department.
Thanks
for.