The Madison City Council narrowly voted Thursday night to keep the mayor's and police chief's recommendation of adding 30 new police officers to Madison police - at a cost of nearly $1.4 million - in the 2008 operating budget.
The council did not pass the proposed $224 million operating budget as of press time, and budget debate continued into the wee hours of this morning. Deliberations once again moved at a snail's pace. By 1 a.m. the council still had more than 30 amendments to discuss.
One reason for that was a spirited and vigorous debate centered on an amendment to add only 18 officers - not the 30 wanted by Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and the police - to the Madison Police Department. The council voted 13-7 to turn down the amendment.
MPD Chief of Police Noble Wray responded to questions and shouldered criticisms from alders in support of reducing the 30 new officers to 18. Ald. Brenda Konkel, District 2, vehemently defended her argument - a need for more statistics, facts and an actual plan of management before giving the police more officers.
As it stands, the city has a ratio of about 1.9 police officers per 1,000 residents. Had the amendment passed, it would have saved about $600,000 in the budget.
Wray acknowledged the fact that the council has a fiscal responsibility"" to the community, but warned the council to avoid controlling the police department.
""What we're requesting is what's needed to provide basic service to keep the city safe,"" he said. ""What we don't need is '¦ micromanaging.""
Cieslewicz, as well as Wray, said Madison residents want to feel safe, and one way of ensuring public safety is to add more police officers to the MPD. In an effort to get public input, city officials held eight neighborhood meetings that Cieslewicz thought amassed more than 2,500 concerned residents. He said of all the arguments heard, people continuously demanded an increase in police presence.
Still, some alders were not convinced. Ald. Brian Solomon, District 10, conceded the fact that more police officers are necessary to ensure public safety. He countered that point by saying other means of handling crime exist, such as social programs to fight poverty.
""It is not ignoring our police,"" Solomon said, ""but it also shows the need to balance prevention and police presence.""
Konkel agreed with the lack of balance in the budget that appropriates more than $50 million toward the MPD.
""I see police getting everything they need and the community not getting the help we need,"" Konkel said.
Cieslewicz responded to claims of the ""lack of a balanced approach"" in public safety funds. He pointed out that in his five years of creating budgets, police and social services have increased at the same pace.
""The budget you could vote on right now is a balanced approach to our public safety,"" he said.
