Mayor Paul Soglin slashed $70 million off the proposed $200 million capital budget Tuesday.

The new Executive Capital Budget for 2016 will focus on a few key criteria including infrastructure, projects currently underway and investments in improving racial equity.

Soglin said the budget in its previous form was unsustainable and that an inflated budget similar to last year’s would result in a veto from his office. He described the city’s debt service share of the budget, currently 13.5 percent, as an important benefit for the city while pointing out that the present budget the city would see this share rise to 21.4 percent in 2019.

Soglin acknowledged the implications this budget decision will bring and even said there was no reason to believe City Council wouldn’t be upset by it and attempt to increase spending.

“Someone’s got to be responsible around here” he said.

Soglin drew attention to projects which will be delayed due to fiscal bloodletting. These included neighborhood centers, public safety facilities, reconstruction of Monroe street and a biodigester.

Projects already underway and those which receive federal funding would continue to be funded under Soglin’s budget. These include repairs to the municipal building, a satellite storage facility for city buses and construction of the Pinney Branch library. Other programs that will continue include the StartingBlock program and a public safety radio system.

Soglin said the budget reductions are necessary to address the generous budgets of the past.

“This is all the product of years and years of thinking that by including everything in the budget, we’re making everyone happy,” Soglin said. “Well this now puts us in a situation where these kinds of cuts are absolutely necessary.”