Mayor Dave Cieslewicz unveiled Madison's 2008 operating budget Tuesday in front of the City Council. In addition, the council approved a recommendation to allow the development of a hotel on West Washington Avenue.
Cieslewicz highlighted several key points of his $224 million executive operating budget, and the City Council will have more than a month to review and eventually approve the budget.
The mayor's budget set aside considerable money for public safety. In fact, he started a Public Safety Initiative that includes hiring 30 new officers for the Madison Police Department, a plan for public safety investments at the cost of $3.9 million and an additional $100,000 for the continued use of the Downtown Safety Initiative.
The budget that we adopt each year is a reflection of the values, concerns and priorities of our community,"" Cieslewicz said in a statement.
The $3.9 million for public safety investments includes nearly $2.5 million to be put towards hiring of 30 new police officers. Cieslewicz noted the 30 new officers - which will be allocated by MPD Chief Noble Wray to areas where they are needed - triples the number added in 2007.
Other notables in the mayor's budget included three new building inspectors, no Metro fare increases, continued Sunday services and a 3.7 percent increase in property taxes.
Still, the entire budget could be altered if two provisions in the Republican Assembly's version of the state budget pass. Cieslewicz said if those provisions came to fruition, more than $15 million in city budget cuts would have to be made.
The mayor was also busy Tuesday with the suddenly controversial passage of the development of a 151-room Hyatt Hotel on 333 W. Washington Ave. The plan commission approved the development of the hotel on Monday.
The heated debate centered on preserving green space in the downtown area. Ald. Robbie Weber, District 5, said although she is for the building of a hotel, Madison needs to keep green space near the Capitol.
Hyatt representatives said Madison's downtown could use more hotel rooms for ""transient business travelers."" ""This change in land use has been very warmly received,"" according to City Council President Mike Verveer.
