Referendum Climate: Madison Mayor Proposes 6% City Budget Spending Increase

Dean Mosiman:

Cieslewicz today will propose a $237.9 million "share the pain" operating budget that raises city taxes $53 on the average $247,974 home.

The proposed budget, a 6 percent spending increase -- the largest Cieslewicz has ever offered -- delivers new money for police, fire, the library and Metro Transit, but freezes or cuts spending in many areas.

"You'll find no extreme cuts to any one agency, but many small cuts," Cieslewicz said. "We did manage to keep long-term commitments."

The 2.9 percent increase in taxes on the average home is among the fifth-lowest in 30 years, but overall tax collections are up 8 percent, the biggest increase since 1993.

"I was focused primarily on taxes on the average home," Cieslewicz said. "That is what people experience."

Much more on the 2008 Madison School District referendum here.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at October 7, 2008 10:22 AM
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