Madison’s Common Council voted to approve the proposed 2014 Capital and Operating Budgets Tuesday, totaling approximately $224.5 million and $272.6 million respectively.
In addition, the Council added a series of amendments regarding the planning and construction of downtown public toilets, and funds providing showers and laundry services for the homeless.
The measures passed are expected to help address some of the daily challenges that face those on the streets, but are not considered a permanent remedy, according to Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8.
“This is a stop-gap measure that should not be acceptable as a long-term solution,” Resnick said. “The city can do better.”
In particular, Council members were divided about whether or not to dedicate funds to a public bathroom facility. The proposed amendment stipulated a $500,000 sum, but many alders were uncomfortable with allocating that much money to a rough estimate determined without a formal study.
“If we have to pass something, I’d rather it be a smaller number,” said Council President and Ald. Chris Schmidt, District 11.
Echoing the sentiment of the alders, Madison Mayor Paul Soglin had little patience for the monetary uncertainty and worried about setting a bad precedent.
“I’ve never seen us doing anything on the fly like this before,” Soglin said. “Does this mean we are now going to embark on a new process of capital budgeting?”
The Council compromised by adopting an amendment Ald. Lisa Subeck, District 1, proposed that reduced the stipulation to $300,000, which was accepted as more realistic.
However, the Council completely rejected a proposed funding reduction to the reconstruction of the Judge Doyle Square parking garage. The Council feared cutting funds would set back the development proceedings, or only permit a minor repair job rather than a full rebuilding.
“We very, very carefully came to the conclusion that yes, we need to replace this rather than repair,” Schmidt said.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, agreed.
“To delay the replacement of the Judge Doyle Square garage facility by a year a two would be by any wisely count foolish,” Verveer said. “I think that if this amendment were adopted tonight it would send a very negative signal to the participants of that process.”
Following the amendment deliberations, the rest of the budget passed smoothly.
Proposed funding to the Madison Police Department was not heavily contested by alders. The Council unanimously approved a $2.6 million overtime reserve.
The adopted 2014 budget falls within the state tax levy limit, and is estimated to cost the average home $2,196 in taxes in the next fiscal year.
Council members were positive about the outcome, citing this year’s lack of contention.
“We are wrapping up before 10 p.m. on the first night,” Schmidt said. “And we’ve managed to squeeze a lot of human services into this budget."
