Operating Budget Impacts

Here's the list of proposed cuts in the Operating Budget and how much they can save you on your tax bill. Again, looking at the programs and how they add to the quality of life in Madison, I have to ask, is it worth it?

Here's what the following cuts will save the taxpayer:

• Sister City Programs $10,000.00 or $.12 on the tax bill for the average home.
• Planning Resources $5,000.00 or $.06 on the tax bill for the average home.
• Emerging Nieghborhoods $100,000.00 or $1.22 on the tax bill for the average home.
• Downtown Public Safety $100,000.00 or $1.22 on the tax bill for the average home.
• Affordable Housing Trust Fund $300,000.00 or $3.67 on the tax bill for the average home.
• Room Tax Reserves $350,000.00 or $4.28 on the tax bill for the average home.
• Cuts Police Dept Info Specialist and but provides more overtime so adds $4,250.00 or $.05 on the tax bill for the average home.
• Common Council Budget $4,579.00 or $.06 on the tax bill for the average home.
• Mayor's Office Budget $10,013.00 or $.12 on the tax bill for the average home.
• Occupational Accommodations Specialist $8,008.00 or $.10 on the tax bill for the average home.
• Bridge Lake Point Waunona Center $13,500.00 or $.16 on the tax bill for the average home.
• East Madison Community Center Children Development Services $3,079.00 or $.04 on the tax bill for the average home.
• East Madison Community Center Summer Youth Program $1,022.00 or $0.01 on the tax bill for the average home.
• Kennedy Heights Neighborhood Center Early Childhood Program $2,286.00 or $0.03 on the tax bill for the average home.
• Kennedy Heights Neighborhood Center Children’s Program $6,335.00 or $.08 on the tax bill for the average home.
• Neighborhood House Summer Children’s Program $6,309.00 or $.08 on the tax bill for the average home.
• Vera Court Neighborhood Center $5,000.00 or $.06 on the tax bill for the average home.
• Women's Transit Authority Replacement $89,200.00 or $1.09 on the tax bill for the average home.
• Project Respect $44,374.00 or $.54 on the tax bill for the average home.
• Senior Center Coffee Urn $2,500.00 or $.03 on the tax bill for the average home.
  

Plus they are raising admission price for swimming pool and if the Westside Planning Council passes, all Planning Councils will get a funding decrease because the funding will be split 4 ways instead of three.

These cuts result in a reduction of $1,256.955 or $15.36 for the owner of an average priced home.

One has to ask is $15.36 worth it for an increased quality of life for so many? And how many of these cuts now, will lead to more expenses down the line?