MADISON (WKOW) -- Mayor Paul Soglin has announced details of next year's budget, with some ideas he's proposing for the city.
Earlier this year, city agencies submitted budgets adding up to $221 million. Soglin has cut that down significantly to $192 million in his 2013 Capital Budget, which means those departments will have to cut about 5 percent of their costs for next year.
Soglin says this budget is largely restricted by commitments the city has made in recent years to ongoing projects, and he hasn't had much wiggle room to add new ideas.
"For those who are looking for this budget to reflect my own priorities, I'm sad to say that that's minimal," says Soglin.
The plan relies on borrowed money-- or general obligation bonds-- to cover $97.3 million. That's nearly half the total cost. The other half comes from other funding, like federal and state revenue, private contributions, and things like room taxes, utility fees and TIF fees.
The total 2013 budget is down by more than $4 million from 2012, but the amount for borrowing is up.
"I wish that the G.O. borrowing was even less because of what it does to our debt service in future years," says Soglin.
The mayor was able to include a few of his priorities though-- like $2 million for two community neighborhood centers-- sites to be determined and $1.2 million to design the city's first ever public market to provide access to fresh food downtown.
Also in the works is a bike bridge over the Beltline that would allow extra bike and pedestrian traffic to the south side of the city. Plus, a new fire station for the far east side.
Soglin says he had hoped to do more with public transportation and neighborhood facilities, but because of debt he doesn't expect to be able to include much more for at least six years.
The Madison City Council will make final decisions on the budget in November.
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MADISON (WKOW) -- Mayor Paul Soglin has released details of his $192 million proposal for the city of Madison's 2013 Capital Budget.
Part of the plans include building a new fire station on the far east side of town, which would cost $5.25 million.
Planning developments include spending $2 million to build neighborhood centers and $1.2 million to find a place for and design a public market to promote local foods in the community.
The budget would also spend $1.24 million on planning for a multi-year development project called Judge Doyle Square, that would remodel the Madison Municipal Building, City County Building, Government East parking structure and add hotel developments.
Soglin also proposes $4.2 million to build a new bike trail bridge over the Beltline between Todd Drive and Fish Hatchery Road, to increase bike and pedestrian mobility on the city's south side.
The 2013 budget comes in more than $4 million less than the adopted 2012 budget, and significantly less than the $221.8 million plan sought by city agencies.
Tonight on 27 News at 5 & 6, Jennifer Kliese shares Mayor Soglin's reactions to the budget.
