The city’s Financial Committee put off an amendment requiring a referendum on the new Central Library renovation Monday.

Ald. Michael Schumacher, District 18, Ald. Mark Clear, District 19, Ald. Judy Compton, District 16, and Ald. Paul Skidmore, District 9, introduced an amendment to the budget saying Madison citizens have the right to vote in a referendum to give these funds to the library.

The amendment was put on file after an hour of debate, and Compton said she will likely bring up the matter again in front of the entire City Council.

Mayor Dave Cieslewicz introduced the 2010 capital budget to the City Council in September. Included in the budget is $37 million to build a new Central Library.

According to the new library project website, the current library is not equipped to serve the community. Maintenance and upgrades are required on the roof, the electrical wiring, the lighting, the front doors, the elevators, and heating and cooling systems.

Schumacher, Clear and Compton all spoke in support of the project.

Compton argued Madison has a reputation for listening to and valuing the opinions of the public, and they have a right to vote on spending this large amount of money.

Those who opposed the amendment argued now is the perfect time to start construction. With so many people out of work, labor costs are low and the library could be built for much less than at another time.

Tripp Widder, president of the Madison Public Library Board, said in the time it takes to pass a referendum, labor costs could greatly increase.

“I think the time is right, and I think that we need to move,” Widder said.

Compton said the referendum would not cost more in terms of building the library and construction would not be severely delayed.

Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, argued if the amendment passed, money that would be going toward the library itself would end up going to special interest campaigns trying to convince citizens to vote for the library.

Verveer also argued the Common Council already has all of the knowledge needed to make this decision, so drawing out the process would be wasting taxpayer time and money.

Cieslewicz agreed with Verveer, saying the people of Madison voted for elected officials so the people would not have to fully educate themselves on every matter of debate.

“We got elected to try to know everything there is to know,” Cieslewicz said.

Many other citizens in attendance echoed this point. Other citizens wanted the library to move forward as quickly as possible to create more jobs.

“My members are dependent on [this project] for construction jobs,” said Mark Hoffmann, business manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.