A quorum of City Council members along with Mayor Paul Soglin met Wednesday to discuss the 2016 capital budget and hear representatives from each city agency explain their funding requests.
Representatives from city agencies came before a special Board of Estimates meeting Wednesday evening. Agencies included the Madison Library Foundation and City Engineering who clarified their budgetary requests and concerns for the next fiscal year.
The executive budget released by Soglin cut $70 million from agency funding requests last week.
City Engineering presses for improvements
Officials from City Engineering, which is responsible for construction and structural maintenance of municipal buildings, spoke on their proposed projects to improve city facilities and answer questions on how their department would deal with the lean budget.
Conversation revolved primarily around renovations for the City Municipal Building and a proposed Midtown Police Station, which under the current proposed budget would both be pushed back another fiscal year.
The building is in need of repair and renovation, including improvements to the space currently occupied by the post office. Elevators must also be upgraded, and the current backup boiler was installed in the 1900s.
Madison is currently participating in an intercity energy efficiency competition hosted by Georgetown University, with a $5 million reward.
Facilities Manager Jeanne Hoffman outlined the ways the city could be competitive in energy efficiency through lighting, heating, ventilating and air conditioning, as well as training city staff to be as energy efficient as possible.
When asked if City Engineering would meet its critical needs under the proposed budget, City Engineer Rob Phillips said while needs will remain under the proposed budget, he acknowledged Soglin had done what he could given the circumstances.
Library Foundation
Jennifer Collins, executive director of the Madison Public Library Foundation, also advocated for construction of a new Pinney Library. Under the current proposal, the city would delay construction for a year. She said the project had already secured some funding from 136 donors, totaling $437,000. She said these donors could possibly pull out if the project is delayed.
Collins said the developer had also made a contribution which would not necessarily remain if the project is delayed. She said delaying the project would harm the prospects of the library.
“We’re ready to go, we’re operating in good faith with private money in place and we feel it’s important to steward these gifts appropriately,” Collins said.
Various other organizations went before the committee before a recess was called. No debate was held.