The City of Bloomington officially welcomed Zach Walker as its new city manager during Monday's council meeting, marking his first day in the role after nearly two decades of executive-level local government experience.

Walker previously served as city manager of Independence, Missouri, a full-service city with more than 1,200 employees and a $454 million budget. During his tenure there, he led major initiatives including a $1 billion industrial development and a $36 million commercial redevelopment, while also launching a city-wide housing study and expanding mental health and homelessness outreach programs.

Mayor Tim Busse highlighted Bloomington's reputation for long-tenured city managers, noting Walker is the city's fourth manager since 1960. The average tenure for city managers in medium-sized cities like Bloomington ranges between five and eight years, according to Busse.

The council also continued discussions of the 2026 budget Monday, focusing on external services and upcoming utility rate changes. Budget pressures from inflation, rising service costs, aging infrastructure and utility operations are affecting rates and service levels, according to the discussion.

The city plans to finalize the budget this fall and will communicate any rate changes, their timing and reasoning to residents. A Truth in Taxation public hearing is scheduled for December 22, with additional budget discussions planned in the coming weeks.