The Madison City Council signaled Tuesday that tough financial times are ahead for the city, when it defeated a motion to solicit construction proposals for the State Street Design Project.
The decision came after Mayor Sue Bauman and city officials gave the council a review of how Wisconsin's projected $1.1 billion deficit will affect the city budget.
\We will have to make significant cuts that will impact our service and be noticeable to constituents,"" Bauman said. ""Every decision is going to be painful but is going to have to be made.""
The city will have to cut $8.3 million from its 2002 budget immediately, if Gov. McCallum's shared revenue cuts pass the state Legislature.
These cuts will likely include layoffs in personnel, Bauman said, because 85 percent of the city budget goes toward personnel salary and benefits.
City Comptroller Dean Brasser ran through several options city staff have considered in the past weeks.
Most proposals, however, did not cut all of the $8.3 million needed. For example, Brasser said, the city could bring in an additional $600,000 per year if it would charge an extra $100 for the service of every ambulance ride. Also, if the city enacted a 0 percent wage increase for all city employees, it would save $3.5 million.
Ald. Brenda Konkel, District 2, cited the financial situation when she moved to reconsider a motion to solicit drawings from construction companies for the State Street Redesign project.
""I think it's obvious after the discussion on the budget why I'd like [the motion] reconsidered,"" she said.
City Planning Unit Director Brad Murphy confirmed Konkel's assertion that available funds for the project are actually $223,000 less than the amount listed in the budget.
As they debated the issue, council members were split on whether the motion would push the city closer toward committing to spending money on the redesign project.
""I don't know if we're going to be able to fund that project, and I don't think its a good use of staff time [to consider proposals] when we're facing layoffs,"" said Ald. Matt Sloan, District 13.
Some council members wanted to consider proposals as soon as possible due to the fact that the city has a contract with the Overture Center to finish the sidewalks on the Overture side of the 200 block of State, Mifflin, Fairchild and Henry Streets.
""I don't expect folks utilizing that center to be walking over plywood planks to use that facility,"" said Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4.
The council voted 10 to nine to re-approve the motion to request design proposals, with Ald. Santiago Rosas, District 17, abstaining, causing the motion to fail because measures need 11 votes to pass in the council.
Despite the setback, Verveer said he was hopeful that the project is not at the end of its line.
""I am optimistic that this is not a mortal wound for the State Street,"" he said.
