Mayor: New City Budget Takes Comprehensive Approach to Public Safety Issues

Madison - Mayor Dave Cieslewicz praised passage of the City of Madison's 2008 operating budget which makes comprehensive, unprecedented investments in public safety. In addition to the hiring of 30 additional police officers, the budget also provides for stepped-up building inspection, youth programs and other initiatives to prevent crime. "I am pleased that the Common Council supported the comprehensive approach to public safety that I proposed in my budget," said Mayor Cieslewicz. "Putting 30 additional police officers in the community will help make neighborhoods throughout Madison safer. But public safety is not just a law enforcement issue, so this budget also invests in a variety of crime prevention initiatives. "Over the past several months, I have attended eight public meetings throughout the community to discuss public safety issues. Some 2,500 Madisonians came to those meetings to make their concerns known. This budget is a clear message to them, and to everyone in the community who cares about public safety, that we heard them, and we responded."