Monona Budget Amendments for 2011 - Doing a Double-Take

Now that the Monona city council has completed its initial work review sessions of Mayor Kahl's budget, we alders get to weigh in with twelve amendments.

ADDENDUM: Maybe I should mention when the council will meet again, eh?

The council takes up the budget this coming Monday, November 1, 2010 at 7:30 PM at the media room in the Monona Public Library.

And I forgot to mention that there is always an Appearance section at the beginnning of the city council meeting and Monday's agenda includes a Public Hearing To Receive Public Input Regarding the Proposed 2011 Operating Budget and Tax Levy.

[END OF ADDENDUM]

The entire budget is also on the city council web page.  

A ho-hum budget got a bit more interesting with a couple of amendments offered by alder Mike Veserat. All told (tolled?) the amendments would add $102,768.00 to the property tax levy for 2011. Most of that increase would come from a $78,000 increase due to alder Veserat's proposal to add a full-time Marketing Director. That one came out of the deep left-field - on the warning track - but hooking foul and out of play. Well, it's a new idea so let's hear what he has to say, but.... 

But Veserat's amendment that has created a buzz - as in a large herd of buzzing Africanized killer bees - is his proposal to cut a half-time position from the Mayor's proposed Parks/Recreation/Community Center/Outdoor Pool budget. To be fair, the Mayor proposed to increase an existing half-time assistant to full-time. Veserat is proposing to go back to the status quo in budget-terms. I oppose this amendment. Adding resources to his budget partly a reward for excellent performance by Park & Rec Director Jake Anderson and his staff. It is also a recognition of the demand for these services. We have discovered that if you offer good and varied rec programs and services, people will come in droves. 

And really, if you want to deal with angry parents, especially of young children, run for school board!

If both of these amendments go down, will alder Mike be in danger of becoming known as Warning Track Mike (i.e. he has "warning track power"). (Just having some fun, folks, don't get your skivvies in a knot. Go here to read about the puzzling origin of the term skivvies and here to learn why you should not tie a knot in your skivvies while wearing them - scroll to the comments.)

I offered three amendments totaling $28,300 for IT improvements (including new and upgraded software, website contract services). I propose to use fund balance reserve to pay for these items. That use would leave the city with a healthy 19% reserve.


Here is a summary of the proposed budget.

Monona City Council Budget Meeting 

Monday, November 1, 2010 at 7:30 PM 

Community Media Room in the Monona Public Library

 Public Hearing To Receive Public Input

Regarding the Proposed 2011 Operating Budget and Tax Levy

And leave your bees at home.

What Grows There?

Or I should say, what grew here? The lone prairie. Found this on the great UW professor of history William Cronon's website. Also go to this page and scroll down to a series of aerial photos of Madison's southwest side.



Click on the map for a larger version



More Bayfield Photos

Some photos I took in September 2010 in Bayfield, Wisconsin. The full set is on Photobucket.

Basswood Island



Madeline Island Ferry depot in Bayfield






Ferry headed to Madeline Island

Bayfield harbor sculpture

Bayfield harbor walk

Bayfield marina

The Madeline at rest

Madeline Island from Bayfield
Looking across STH 13

New Bike Path Over the Beltline

Great news for area bikers. According to madison.com, a new bike path will extend across the Beltline and eventually connect with the Military ridge Trail.

"In Dane County, about $2.5 million will help cover costs of a 4-mile Cannonball Path, which will cross the Beltline on Madison's South Side and run on an abandoned Union Pacific rail bed through Fitchburg to the Military Ridge Trail."

This trail provides a much needed additional safe route across the Beltline for bikers.

Some Bayfield Photos

Here is a sampling of photographs I took this past April 2010 in Bayfield, Wisconsin and envrions.

Sea Caves at Big Bay State Park on Madeline Island

Big Bay State Park

Bayfield from the Madeline Island Ferry

Madeline Island from the golf course above Bayfield

Madeline Island from the golf course above Bayfield



Long Island



Maggie's

Iron Bridge

Bayfield Carnegie Public Library

National Lakeshore HQ

On the Iron Bridge

View from the Iron Bridge

Wrought Iron Fence at the Rice House

Rice House

Grace Episcopal

April 25, 2010

That Other Referendum Question

While the train haters are busy getting their freak on next Tuesday over a question that nobody could love, there is a real referendum question on the ballot that really will impact your taxes and the quality of life in Dane County: The MATC, err, Madison College referendum.

Madison.com ran a story this week giving the essentials. Madison College has its own bloggish website that it calls its Smart Community Plan. Holy cats! Their last referendum was in 1974.

According to madison.com:

"Madison Area Technical College will be asking voters on Nov. 2 for the green light to borrow up to $133.8 million for new construction. The bonds would take 20 years to pay off. If the referendum passes, taxes on the average home in Madison, valued at $245,424, would increase by $33.10."

Yes, it's a bad time to ask voters to raise their taxes, but it is also a very smart time to borrow money for needed capital projects.

Gadzooks, even the Herald Independent - amidst their endorsement of every Republican and conservative talking point in sight - supports this referendum. And don't blame - or credit - Adam and the gang at the Herald for these endorsements; they come from the publisher.


What do you think?

This came in the mail today:

Barkley's New Diet

Charles Barkley, once known as The Round Mound of Rebound, was on PTI today looking noticably slimmer. Kornheiser asks him what his secret diet is. To which Barkley replies, "If it tastes good, I spit it out!"

Now if he can just fix that golf swing.