Restore money for Overture

Praise for city and county budget proposals

We applaud both Madison Mayor Soglin and Dane County Executive Parisi for the approaches they took to their proposed 2013 budgets in total. They were fiscally responsible and respectful of both basic services and taxpayers.

Individual priorities, be they lake quality or local food or music, are appropriate and deserving of support. Tough decisions like bus fare increases and the best approach to dealing with homelessness warrant public input and debate.

But like a lot of people, we find the mayor’s one million dollar reduction in promised city support for the Overture Center a glaring example of budget overreach. That money is not just a priority, it was a commitment that a lot of good folks stepped up to support with private money on the assumption the city’s word was good.

We expect the city council to do the right thing and reinstate that subsidy. Overture is worth it. And we need to be able to trust a promise.

That said, both Soglin and Parisi proposed sound budgets and we appreciate it.

Restore money for Overture