The Madison Common Council heard public testimony for more than four hours at a meeting Tuesday night before beginning deliberations on the 2006 Capitol and Executive Budgets. Only a portion of the amendments were discussed and deliberations will continue tonight.

The council was aware it would be in for a long night on Tuesday. Ald. Robbie Webber, District 5, said before the meeting began that she did not expect to discuss the amendments on Tuesday at all.

Public hearings ended before 11 p.m., which allowed alders to begin discussing amendments in the annual budget.

Testimony on the Executive Budget, which starred Madison Metro, dominated the night, lasting more than three hours. All people who spoke during hearings supported the approval of the addition of $558,000 to Metro funding, an amendment proposed by Ald. Ken Golden, District 10.

"I support the amendment to increase funding for Madison Metro," Susan De Voss, member of the Transit and Parking Committee, said. "Madison is growing, and the solution to deal with its growth is not to strangle the system further, but to encourage its expansion."

Michael Barrett, member of the Urban Design Commission, addressed the rising gas prices — the reason for the shortage of Metro funds — as a chance to do something for Madison, and the city should embrace it.

"We need to look at the rising fuel prices as an opportunity to increase ridership," Barrett said. "You've already got the fare increases, you got the ridership increases. Let's keep Madison [Metro] on a roll."

In line with Metro funding approval, the council rejected an amendment which would cut funding to replace Metro bus shelters on Capitol Square.

In rejecting the amendment, the 2006 Capitol Budget will fund the construction of four new, aesthetically pleasing bus shelters to swap places with the seven currently on the square.

Ald. Ken Golden, District 10, told his colleagues he felt attractive bus shelters near the Capitol are imperative to the budget.

"These are the biggest damn things we put on the street," Golden said. "If you want to make them ugly when we're doing all these other things to make our downtown attractive at the same time, then that's your choice. I don't see how we can surround things like the Overture Center and the Capitol with these Kmart boxes."

Alders also approved the amendment to not use $800,000 to place gates on downtown railroad crossings. The gates would have eliminated the need for train whistles at the intersections.

However, Ald. Lauren Cnare, District 3, proposed reconsideration of the amendment with a slight adjustment. The council approved her reconsideration because, as a result of the adjustment, the gates would not affect taxpayers.

Alders were also able to discuss an amendment to reject funding for the Buckeye Parking Ramp on State Street; the amendment was subsequently not approved. Funding for the ramp will continue as slated by Mayor Dave Cieslewicz.

Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, admitted the project would not even be started in 2006, but pleaded with the council to reject the amendment to give hope to businesses.

"This is a symbolic vote," Verveer said. "If we do not reject this amendment, there will be many upset business owners on State Street."

Council recessed at midnight, having made decisions on seven amendments. The other 48 budget amendments await their deliberation Wednesday.