Board Of Estimates Recommends Approval Of Madison City Budget

Madison city leaders are moving forward with plans for the 2012 budget.

During a meeting on Monday night, the city’s Board of Estimates recommended the Common Council approve the budget proposal.

The city has an extra $900,000 after employees chose cheaper health insurance options and fuel costs dropped. Mayor Paul Soglin said the savings plugs some cash into the city?s budget hole.

“It basically offsets a bad piece of news on the opposite side that we got where the state cut $450,000 of revenue for us, and it counters the half a million dollars or so that has been added to the budget in the Board of Estimates,” Soglin said.

The average home owner will still pay around $66 more in taxes.

The Council begins debating the budget on Nov. 15.