
Statement of Mayor Paul R. Soglin on the 2015 Budget
I return the 2015 Budget to the City Clerk without my signature. After three years of steady progress in addressing the issues of fiscal responsibility and a commitment to solving the challenges of poverty and equity, the amendments made to the budget represent a step backwards.
The significant step increases in capital expenditures and the associated operating budget commitments prevent us from meeting our commitments to close income, opportunity, and educational disparity gaps.
The increasing of revenues without a concurrent commitment to parity for city workers is not acceptable.
The awarding of a gift of $100,000 to a grantee with no standard for performance and deliverables, without competition or TRANSPARENT REVIEW is a mockery of our own commitment to fair distribution of public resources.
The discussion last night on the motion to reconsider makes a debate on a veto redundant. Clearly a veto would be overridden. The debate was productive with meaningful acknowledgment for the first time that council members recognize there is a fiscal challenge. Since the first presentations in July related to this budget through the committee of the whole meetings, there was very little concern for fiscal responsibility so we could meet our obligations to the public, the public employees and those demanding equity.
I will address the issue of ‘transparency’ and the accusations of secrecy at a later time, but be clear that the public and I insist on documentation, or the charges will be dismissed to the trashcan of history with other red-herrings, diversions and unsubstantiated and undocumented nonsense.
Please, let us join together in making Madison the best city for everyone.