City officials proposed a record number of amendments to the city budget at the Board of Estimates meeting Monday, but an extra half million dollars allocated from the state budget may help equalize any adjustments.
According to George Twigg, spokesperson for Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, the mayor's original budget proposal of $242 million was left nearly intact, with only small monetary differences.
Ald. Mark Clear, District 19, said despite the long meeting that lasted until 1 a.m. and the unusual number of amendments, many compromises were made and he was pleased that the Board of Estimates did not significantly add to what the mayor had originally proposed.
There were some additions and some cuts, and we ended up in pretty much the same place the mayor started at,"" he said.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said an unexpected $500,000 in revenue from the state budget, signed by Gov. Jim Doyle Oct. 26, allowed for additional allocations in the city's budget.
""We added a lot of things that did add money, but because we had all this new money coming in as a result of the state budget, we were able to end the night really unchanged from the mayor's proposed budget,"" he said.
Twigg said not all of the money would go into the budget, however. Of the extra $500,000, Twigg said $200,000 would be set aside for future expenditures.
""The mayor's proposal was to save some of that money and basically put it in the bank and use it for some things we thought we couldn't afford,"" Twigg said.
Ald. Eli Judge, District 8, said he is pleased with the budget, particularly the resources allocated for downtown and campus safety.
""Hopefully the extra visibility of 30 new cops and a very visible police force will stop crimes of opportunity and other things that can be deterred by increased forces,"" he said.
The mayor's budget will allot $53 million for the Madison Police Department.
Verveer said resident and student concerns about downtown crime prompted continued funding for the Downtown Safety Plan, which would give extra resources for overtime police patrollers downtown.
Also on Monday night, Ald. Zach Brandon, District 7, proposed to cut the DSP. However, his proposal was unsuccessful and the plan will remain under the mayor's budget.
""This money is not meant to have additional cops checking IDs in bars or busting house parties,"" he said. ""This is for visibility on the street and dealing with more violent crimes.""
Twigg said Mayor Dave Cieslewicz is satisfied with the city budget's progress, and hopes it continues until it is bought to the common council on Nov. 13.
""The budget is the most important thing the city does all year,"" Twigg said. ""It sets our priorities and allocates our resources for the entire year to come, and the mayor is very happy that the proposal he brought forward is almost entirely maintained thus far.""
Verveer said Nov. 13 would be the beginning of a three-day series of special council meetings to finalize the budget, and while he anticipates long meetings, he expects the budget to be complete by Nov. 16.
