2012 City Budget Recap

The 2012 city budget has been passed and signed. Here's a quick summary of the amendments I highlighted in my previous post and the results of those amendments.

Capital Budget

Amendment 1: Remodel Fire Station #2 (Grand Canyon Drive)
This amendment passed on a voice vote, meaning Station 2 will be remodeled in 2012 rather than waiting until 2013. A big thank you to several neighborhoods which were very active on this issue—your voices were heard!

Amendment 6: Williamson St. Utility Undergrounding
This amendment was modified so that the project will only be done if there is TIF funding available, rather than using general obligation debt. I supported the modification and the resulting amendment.

Amendment 17: Edgewater TIF
This amendment to restore the funding for Edgewater failed 10-10 with the Mayor declining to cast the tie-breaking vote. (Amendments need 11 votes to pass.) The project is now likely dead.

Operating Budget

Amendment 1: Performing Arts Study
This amendment to delete $125,000 of funding for the study initially passed, but then later in the evening it was reconsidered and then failed (meaning the funding was restored). The reconsideration occurred after the Mayor threatened to veto the entire budget unless the funding was restored. I supported the original amendment and did not support reconsideration. But once it was reconsidered, I reluctantly voted against it so that we could avoid the veto. I felt that the chaos and uncertainty that a budget veto would cause was not worth it over this relatively small item.

Amendment 9: South Point Yard Waste Site
This amendment passed, meaning the site will remain open. I supported the amendment.

Amendment 13: Overture funding
This amendment passed, increasing Overture funding from $1.35 million to $1.85 million, which is closer to the $2 million that the city pledged in 2010. I supported the amendment.

If you have questions or comments on these or any other amendments, or on the budget in general, please be in touch.

Subscribe to this blog and get e-mail updates on many other city topics by joining my.cityofmadison.com at the link below.