Normal Bloomington Area (Chicago, Peoria, Springfield: tornadoes, insurance, budget)

[pcdoctor]

Hey Folks:

I went to St. Louis back in April and on the way there, we drove through the normal/bloomington area of Illinois. While driving through, I thought it looked like a very nice area. I would like to know a few things. What are the crime rates there? What am I to expect when it comes to taxes such as sales tax percentage? What's the weather like all year round? What's the cost of living? Are there jobs available there? Are there things to do in the city? Please get back to me when you can.

Thanks

[linicx]

Originally Posted by pcdoctor

Hey Folks:

I went to St. Louis back in April and on the way there, we drove through the normal/bloomington area of Illinois. While driving through, I thought it looked like a very nice area. I would like to know a few things. What are the crime rates there? What am I to expect when it comes to taxes such as sales tax percentage? What's the weather like all year round? What's the cost of living? Are there jobs available there? Are there things to do in the city? Please get back to me when you can.

Thanks

B-N crime rates aren't any higher than any other area the same size.. Crime is the sign of our times. Sales tax usually isn't more than 9% in most areas. B-N has four seasons. Allergies, Heat Stoke, Flu and Snow. Work depends upon what you can do and how much you expect to get paid for it. State Farm Insurance is a major employer. Nursing homes and fast food almost always hire. There are a couple of colleges and a lake. Miller Park in Bloomington is one of two oldest Zoological Parks in America. Lincon Park Zoo in Chicago is the other oldest zoo. They are both the "oldest".in the nation. The difference is the size of the community they were located when the designation was made.

Elsewise someone else will have to answer. I haven't participated in the B-N nightlife since my friend died a few years ago. i don't have the stomach to go back.

[pcdoctor]

Wow a 9% tax. That's a little outrageous I would say. It's only 6% here in MI.

[AnimalLover]

9%? That's news to me. This is from Illinois Dept of Revenue for Bloomington & Normal:

Merchandise 7.5, Food and Medicine 1%, Vehicles 6.25

State Farm and Country Companies are major employers in the area. I live 1+ hours south, but have been there several times, never had a problem. Favorite place to eat is Avanti's- great bread!

[breer23]

Originally Posted by AnimalLover

9%? That's news to me. This is from Illinois Dept of Revenue for Bloomington & Normal:

Merchandise 7.5, Food and Medicine 1%, Vehicles 6.25

You might find 9% at the fast food places tho. For some reason, they tend to be a bit higher than the grocery store or even a typical sit-down restaurant.

State Farm and Country Companies are major employers in the area. I live 1+ hours south, but have been there several times, never had a problem. Favorite place to eat is Avanti's- great bread!

Mmm...Avanti's bread...how i miss it so. I moved to STL a few months ago, but went to ISU and haven't been up to B-N in 3 years. Now that we are moving again (further from, not closer to, BN), I need one more fix before we head out.

[ILMomof4]

I love the four seasons remark!!! The weather isn't as harsh as around Chicago. We do not get nearly as much snow as they do. I live in Normal and it is a nice place to live. I grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago and the crime here is less. The schools are great, the housing is affordable. I agree about Avanti's bread but I love Jimmy Johns even more. There is just about any store or restaurant you could think of. There is plenty to so around here with the new uptown Normal, the colleges also have a lot of things going on all the time, the new Coliseum and the Constitution Trail. Plus you are within 3 hours of Chicago, Indy, and St. Louis. Springfield also has some neat things to do and that is an hour and a half from here.

[pcdoctor]

Since you live in that area, what is the sales tax rate there? Also, was there a lot of flooding in that area and tornados? I heard parts of the midwest really got weather earlier in the year.

[ILMomof4]

I believe the sales tax is about 7.5%. The last 2 years we haven't had any tornadoes here. They have gone around us but there is a "State Farm bubble" over B-N. Ha ha ha! We have had a lot of rain but no real flooding. And the fourth season isn't snow it is "really, really cold"!

[linicx]

Twenty-Five years ago Bloomington was an over-grown farm twon with a ballroom. Time and national retailers passed it up and the city fathers weren't particularly interested in progress or in forward thinking. The only nightlife was bars amd the nearest mall was in Normal. I suspect that has all changed. Winter weatjer cam be brital especailly wind chills that can drop below zerr very quickly. The nice thing about the mid secion of Illinois, is we are prepared and we know how to deal with it. B-N is a hub: Lincoln, Springfield, Champaign, Peoria, Chicago, St.Louis are not that far away, and with the exception of Lincoln, the others are metro areas. Housing though is pricy compared to Lincoln,

[steve_holt]

The sales tax rate in Normal is 7.5%, Bloomington is 7.75%. There is an additional 2% entertainment tax that applies to restaurants and alcohol. That 2% tax was added a few years ago during a budget crunch. Bloomington added a 0.25% sales tax increase this year to help pay for budget overruns related to the newly constructed Coliseum downtown. I expect Normal will add 0.25% within a year.

The low crime rate here has always been a selling point of the area. While it is still lower than the larger areas of central Illinois, there is still crime in pockets of town. But it is a very safe area.

Both Bloomington and Normal have been spending a lot of money recently on "lifestyle" improvements. Bloomington has created a performing arts center and sports arena downtown. Normal has torn down many buildings downtown and is completely rebuilding the area, building a minor league baseball stadium, and tearing down an enclosed mall and building an open air mall. So there's a lot of improvement and revitalization happening, but at taxpayer expense. I'm looking forward to the changes, however.