Monona Budget Summary

As you may have already read in the Herald-Independent, the Monona Common Council unanimously adopted the 2009 operating budget and levy this past Monday (December 1).


Herald story: Monona operating budget approved with extra police speeding enforcement


Previous budget posts: My previous post on the budget amendments: Monona Budget Vote Preview. For more on the overall budget, see previous posts on the Monona city budget: Monona Budget Proposed by Mayor Kahl and Monona Budget Meeting and More on the Monona Budget . To see the budget itself go to: Proposed 2009 Budget


The amendments to the capital budget were delayed to the next meeting on December 15.


Before getting to the details of the budget I want to praise the people of Monona who came out to voice their opinions, especially in support of LPFM radio (Low Power Radio Coming to Monona?). And by my count 29 people spoke or registered in favor of the sustainability proposals (not specific to the budget). A full room on budget night - a marvel of the modern world, indeed.


Big picture: The levy will be $5,257,704. The mill rate will be $5.23 ($5.23 for each $1000 of assessed value). The increase is $65.14 on the median home valued at $274,000.


The levy increased 7.51% over 2008. The Mayor's original proposal was for an 8.63% increase. Nearly all of the increased spending is due to increased debt service. The debt service peaked this year and will decline about $200,000 next year.

The amendments:

1. Alderman Bob Miller's proposed amendment to eliminate the proposed new police officer for traffic enforcement passed 6-0.


2. Mayor Robb Kahl's amendment to add police overtime in the amount of $35,580 - to be funded by a $35,580 increase in fines passed 5-1. Others can speak for themselves, but after being ready to vote nay, I was persuaded by Lt. Frank Fenton's answers to our questions that he uses a data-based evaluation, that the data shows a need for localized enforcement, and that he cannot do sustained enforcement without additional staff. (Fenton supervises traffic enforcement.). I was also reassured by the Mayor's promise to evaluate the program through the year. Speed enforcement will be stepped up.


3. Alderman Jeff Wiswell's amendment to add $5,000 for 50 stop signs failed 5-1.


4. Alderman Wiswell's amendment to eliminate the entire $7,700 amount in the CATV budget for 'new transmission methods' (e.g. LPFM and live streaming) failed 5-1.


5. My amendment to use an additional $55,740 of the fund balance to hold down the levy passed 4-2 (Alders Wiswell and Dennis Kugle voted nay). This amendment leaves the city with over 17.5% in reserve and reduced the levy by $14.23 on the median homeowner.

***

Other council action. (Monona Council Preview)

1. Tabled the capital expenditure for the 911 equipment with the concurrence of police chief Walter 'Wally' Ostrenga.
2. Rejected funds for the Coalition for an Underground Alternative on the ATC line.
3. Delayed action on the Development of a Sustainability Initiative with Sustain Dane
4. Approved a Grant Application to the Office of Energy Independence (OEI) to Conduct an Energy Assessment
5. Approved the appointment of Lindsay Wood Davis to the CATV committee (And much thanks to Andy Hagen for pointing out that Lindsay is not my daughter.)

And again high praise to the many people who made their voice heard. The council listens.