After a controversial and lengthy discussion of amendments, 2011 operating the Common Council granted final approval of the budget in a 16-4 vote at 1 a.m. Thursday.
The budget creates a tax levy of $179,491,250, with the city property tax on the average home at 5.08 percent.
The adopted amendments made several additions to the original budget Mayor Dave Cieslewicz proposed and few cuts. The council members voted to add $43,000 to the clerk's office budget for additional costs associated with the upcoming election, to increase Neighborhood Grants funds from $50,000 to $80,000 and to construct two $5,000 outdoor ice rinks.
The council members also voted to create a Small Business Development Specialist position to assist small business owners, costing $72,538, after heated debate among the council members. Many council members argued for the necessity of the position in creating new jobs.
""There weren't increases for the sake of increases…there will be added positions, but I think it's where we absolutely needed them,"" Ald. Bridget Maniaci, District 2, said.
The trend toward increased spending, however, was of concern to some council members.
""I think we should be proceeding with more caution than we are … I'm concerned about some of the levying we're going to be seeing in the future and the people of Madison, how they'll react to it,"" Ald. Jed Sanborn, District 1, said.
One change to the original budget that could allow money to be returned to taxpayers was the dissolving of the Inclusionary Zoning Revenue Fund into the general city fund.
Among the most contentious points of the discussion was the elimination of the Pedestrian Bicycle Coordinator position, which was held by Arthur Ross for 27 years. The council ultimately voted 10-10, with Cieslewicz breaking the tie in favor of eliminating the position. The operating budget cut three other current city jobs.
