The Common Council kicked off budget deliberations Tuesday, hearing public input from Madison residents on amendments in the proposed 2009 capital and operating budgets.
Among one of the most controversial items on the agenda of the operating budget was the proposed 50-cent increase in Madison Metro bus fares to $2, which all public speakers on the issue vehemently opposed.
Madison resident Ted Voth said he has a slogan for the proposed increase: More fare, same service."" He argued increasing fares would be most detrimental to people who use public transportation as a necessity.
""Would any of you moderate business people sell your product that way?"" Voth asked the council. ""I don't think so.""
He also said the increase would create more traffic congestion and parking problems throughout the city. Echoing Voth's opinions, Madison resident Tim Wong said consequences of a fare increase would appear to go against the city's environmentally friendly initiatives and harm bus riders during the nation's current financial crisis.
""It seems like a 33 percent bus fare increase at a time when a lot of people are in lots of economic trouble is not a natural step and in fact certainly does nothing to promote sustainability,"" Wong said.
After nearly three hours of public comment, the council moved on to voting on amendments in the 2009 capital budget. Among the items approved was an amendment to allot funds for improvements on downtown streets sponsored by Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, and Ald. Eli Judge, District 8.
Verveer said the upgrades to portions of Gorham Street and Broom Street were in accordance with the State Street Design Project Plan to reconstruct State Street and adjacent areas. Judge urged the council to support the plan to replace existing pavement in the area, noting the deterioration of many downtown streets through his firsthand experience.
""As someone who walks the street almost every day, that state of disrepair is almost at a dangerous level to the point where it's something of a tripping hazard,"" Judge said.
With the capital budget amended and approved, the council will continue their discussion of the operating budget Wednesday night and go into Thursday if needed.
