Common Council members proposed $792,000 worth of amendments to Mayor Dave Cieslewicz's operating budget Thursday.
One of the more controversial amendments is one sponsored by Ald. Joe Clausius, District 17 and Ald. Tim Bruer, District 14, to give eight of the 11 Madison police officers added in 2010 permanent positions.
Cieslewicz's proposed $274 million operating budget for 2011 included no new police officers.
The amendment would have a net cost of $286,690 for the additional eight officers, plus costs associated with equipment and two squad cars. According to the amendment, this will be funded through the Justice Assistant Grant, a federal grant awarded to law enforcement programs.
Another budget amendment requested, $221,203 for the Streets Division and Metro Transit agencies. The amendment Ald. Chris Schmidt, District 11 and Ald. Satya Rhodes-Conway, District 12, sponsored includes the addition of six street sweeping machine operators effective September 1, 2011.
Additionally there is a $40,000 amendment Ald. Bridget Maniaci, District 2, sponsored to establish heath insurance and retirement benefits for Common Council members.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, sponsored an amendment for $25,020 to restore overtime funding associated with the August student move out.
The amendments will be discussed at the Board of Estimates meeting Monday.
The Common Council will make final decision on the operating and capital budgets the week of Nov. 16.
