The 2003 Executive Operating Budget presented to the Common Council on October 1 reflects a robust economy, healthy revenue increases and conservative spending plans for the future. It continues my on-going commitment to deliver high quality urban services to city residents while maintaining the fiscal health of the city and its residents.
The taxes on an average home in Madison would go down next year 1.88% under my budget. This is the first city budget in memory that actually lightens the burden on property taxpayers. We are able to do this, in large part, due to a 10.55% increase in net taxable property in the city. New construction continues to add value to the downtown and elsewhere in Madison at historic rates. Since 1997 when I was first elected mayor, the value of commercial property downtown alone has risen an astonishing 80%, adding $494.5 million in value to Madison.
We benefit next year by being slated to receive a larger share of payments under the State Shared Revenues program, rather than being forced to face an additional cut. Coupled with increased revenues and the creation of the storm water utility, we were able to produce a budget with only a slight increase in the overall tax levy and a net decrease in the taxes paid on the “average” home.
I have scheduled a number of listening sessions on the 2003 City Budget in October and early November at locations throughout the city. The complete list of listening sessions is posted on the Mayor’s Office page of the City website at www.ci.madison.wi.us
These listening sessions are a valuable way for people to talk directly with me about issues they regard as pressing and confronting the future of Madison. They’re also an opportunity for me to present my vision for Madison’s future and how, working together, we can ensure that it remains a great place for all who choose to come here to live, learn, work and play.
You are, also, most cordially invited to attend the Neighborhood Roundtable being planned for Saturday morning, November 2, at Warner Park Community and Recreation Center. This half-day event, cosponsored by MG&E, will present a rich menu of topics of interest to neighborhood activists and those who want to become more actively involved in helping to shape their community. There will be presentations on city grant programs: the Neighborhood Leadership/Capacity Building Grants, Community Enhancement Grants, Neighborhood Planning Grants, the Traffic Management Program and other opportunities for City funding to carry a neighborhood project forward to completion.
MG&E will present information on how best to approach large corporations with project proposals, how to develop neighborhood web pages, and how neighborhood energy programs can benefit everyone.
Pre-registration is recommended, as space will be limited. Contact Jule Stroick in the Department of Planning and Development, 266-4635, or visit the City website for registration information online.
Please feel free to contact me, sbauman@ci.madison.wi.us, if you have questions on any of these topics.
Susan J.M. Bauman
Mayor
