At a last-minute press conference Monday, Mayor Paul Soglin introduced a set of substitute amendments to both the proposed 2013 operating and capital budgets, one of which would increase how much funding the city will allocate to the Overture Center for the Arts.
Soglin’s most significant change to his proposed $266.4 million budget includes granting $500,000 to the arts center in addition to the original $850,000 outlined in the budget.
But the additional funding would come in stages, according to Soglin, and would be dependent on a nonprofit group and how Council members decide to use premium funds.
Prior to Soglin entering office, Downtown Madison Inc. and a non profit group called Friends of Madison Parks said they would raise $350,000 to improve Lisa Link Peace Park, located at 229 W. Gilman St. and 452 State St., but have not yet paid the city back.
Soglin said when the city receives that funding, he would make it available to the Overture.
“I would assume [the nonprofit groups] would [pay] since DMI is such a strong advocate at all costs of funding Overture,” Soglin said.
The city would provide an additional $150,000 grant to the Overture, under the condition that the city receives full disclosure in how the arts center uses the money, which Soglin said is a common practice.
“It’s the least we can do when somebody receives close to $2 million from the city,” he said.
Also included in Soglin’s budget is $500,000 of premium funds, which Soglin said he wants to use to pay some the city’s debt. But he said he would not “fight the city Council” if members decide to use the premium funds for the Overture.
Soglin’s budget amendment package would also eliminate a proposal to increase bus fare.
While Soglin said his “constructive and realistic” package addresses Council members concerns in addition to his own, Council President Shiva Bidar-Sielaff said she does not support how the Overture funds are contingent on other sources.
“The mayor has the ability to compose an executive budget, and I think it’s really important to let the Council work through our amendments and our deliberation process,” Bidar-Sielaff said.
Common Council will begin final budget deliberations Tuesday.
