Budget Amendments Vote on November 14
On November 14, 2023 the council will consider 18 alder amendments to the budget. Find out more below and consider submitting feedback!
2024 Budget Amendments
The city is in the final phase of this year’s 2024 Operating Budget process, and the final vote will take place during the City Council Meeting on November 14, 2022. There will a public hearing at 7:30 pm. Later, the council will vote on amendments submitted by alders, followed by adoption of the amended budget.
See below for information on alder amendments. Below that is more general information on the mayor’s proposed budget.
See below for information on all amendments and consider submitting feedback!
Options for submitting feedback or participating
Attend the 11/14 council meeting at 7:30 pm and give a 3 minute testimony.. Come to city hall (5520 Lacy Road), go to council chambers (end of the hallway on the left), fill out the form (get one at the back of the room), and wait for your turn to speak for 3 minutes. Can’t attend in person? You can get you a zoom link to testify online. Email the Fitchburg City Clerk to ask for a link.
Send written feedback to Council&Mayor@fitchburgwi.gov . Please note that if there are more than five emails pertaining to a single issue, the mayor will not read the email content during the meeting, only list your name as registering in support or opposition.
Register in support or opposition to an amendment without including a written explanation to Council&Mayor@fitchburgwi.gov . Your name will be read at the meeting as registering in support or opposition.
Watch the council meetings in person at City Hall (5520 Lacy Road), live at the Fitchburg City website or watch the YouTube video posted the day following the meeting.
Proposed Amendments
Note: Amendments 1 and 2 were moved down since they are paired with amendments 6 and 8.
#3 Remove Funding for Free E-Bike Passes (Alder Herbst)
Description: Removal of $2,500 in Mayor’s Proposed Budget for E-bike free passes.
Rationale: 1. The Mayor has stated that this is an equity issue. I believe it is important to remind the Mayor that the city is not a charity agency. What about the equity for the 80-90% of residents who don’t ride bikes?
2. If residents want to try out an e-bike they can do it for free at a bike shop in the area or by checking out a pass at a Madison library.
3. Residents have repeatedly told me they want the city to focus on basic services
4. If other Alders or the Mayor feel strongly about this issue, perhaps they should donate the amount from their alder or mayoral salaries.
#4 Remove Increased Funding for HNI Grants (Freeze 2023 Levels) (Alder Herbst)
Description: Freeze the Healthy Neighborhood Initiative (HNI) funding at the 2023 level. Decrease 2024 funding from $78,000 to $63,000.
Rationale: 1. It was brought to my attention that one of the organizations given funding in the 2023 HNI operate in Madison and not Fitchburg
2. Local government is not a charity agency. It is not the function of local government to collect taxpayer dollars and then redistribute them to charitable organizations.
3. This is being promoted as an equity issue. The main issue our lower income residents have is affording rent and putting food on the table. Unnecessary city spending drives up housing costs for our most vulnerable residents. The best thing the city can do to promote equity is to keep our spending down to keep our city more affordable.
4. It is the obligation of the residents with means to support needed local charities like United Way and food banks by donating directly to these charities and not relying on the city to collect tax dollars from all residents and then inefficiently redistributing.
#5 Utilize Levy Limit Capacity for Hub on One-Time Projects or Contingency (Alder Gerhardt)
Description: This amendment authorizes the use of the $125,000 set aside for Hub operating expenses to be used in 2024 without interfering with the strategy to retain the capacity for the 2025 budget.
Rationale: $125,000 in levy capacity is set aside to prepare for HUB Park operating expenses in 2025 but will not be needed for this purpose in calendar year 2024. This capacity is available but should not be used for ongoing operating expenses. This amendment will allow for using this funding for one-time projects and/or allocating it for contingency funding in 2024. These one-time projects could be budget amendments that arise during the budget process.
#6 Add Career Firefighter/ Inspector (Alder Gerhardt)
Description: Add a career firefighter position to start in 2024.
Rationale: The Fitchburg Fire Department has faced high levels of overtime for many years, with the burden falling on the career firefighters. This is due in part to the difficulty of filling shift hours with paid-on-call or paid-on-premises (POX) firefighters, which our fire department model depends on to function properly; this is an industry-wide challenge. The need for more full-time career firefighters has been an identified department need for almost 30 years.
2023 was by far the worst year to date, with over 8,000 hours of overtime in the first three quarters of the year. While we were able to add a career firefighter in October 2023 that will continue into 2024, there will still be significant overtime required of career staff throughout 2024. Extraordinary levels of compulsory overtime hurts morale and burns out Fitchburg firefighting staff. At time and half pay, it is also an incredibly expensive budget item. Adding another career firefighter will reduce overtime even more (though it will not eliminate it) and may even save the city money over the course of the year.
#2 Reduce Fire Department Overtime (Alder Gerhardt)
Description: Reduce the budgeted amount for overtime hours for the fire department by approximately $25,000. This should only pass if we add the Career Firefighter/Inspector position.
Rationale: If we add a full-time Career Firefighter/Inspector, less overtime will be required. This amendment reduces the budget for overtime in the Fire Department to reflect the anticipated reduced need for overtime in the department.
#7 Add Funding for Changes to Transit System (Alder Gerhardt)
Description: The amendment allocates additional funding for transit in the amount of $50,000. The use of this funding will be informed by the coming Intracity Transit Feasibility Study and/or input from Public Works staff.
Rationale: A forthcoming Intracity Transit Feasibility Study will be completed in early 2024. This study will assess the need for transit in categories including 1) Transit shuttle to Civic Campus, 2) Bus route extensions, 3) Additional Park and Rides. Bus routes are updated by Madison Metro Transit on a regular basis and will be open for changes in Spring 2024.
This allocation will allow for a 2024 implementation of a recommendation from the study or a different change as determined by Public Works, including but not limited to changes to the bus lines. This is a good use of the funding available since $125,000 of levy limit capacity is available because of an unanticipated increase in State Transportation Aid.
#8 Increase Revenue Allocation to Community Wellbeing Fund (Alder Gerhardt)
Description: Increase the percentage of the Court Penalties and Fines revenue stream that goes to the Community Wellbeing Fund from 3.5% to 12%. This is paired with a second amendment that allocates the current funds in the Community Wellbeing Fund to the HNI Grant Program, which completely offsets the tax levy impact of this amendment.
Rationale: The Community Wellbeing Fund was created in the 2021 Budget and is funded by 3.5% of the annual Court Penalties and Fines revenue stream. Inspired by the Hotel Tax/CEDA model, the driving concept of this fund is that investing revenue from fines and penalties back into the community is an acknowledgement that investment is the best way to address societal problems. As the city continues to provide more community support over the years, hopefully the fines and penalties revenue stream will begin to fall as a reflection of a healthier community.
In a separate amendment, I allocate money in the Community Wellbeing Fund to the HNI Grant Program, which reduces the tax levy by $15,000. Increasing the percentage to 12% will yield ~$20,000 in revenue to the Community Wellbeing Fund in 2024.
#1 Change Funding Source for Some HNI Grant Funding (Alder Gerhardt)
Description: Change the funding source for $15,000 of the Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative (HNI) Grant money to the Community Wellbeing Fund. This is paired with a second amendment related to the Community Wellbeing Fund.
Rationale: The Community Wellbeing Fund was created in the 2021 Budget and is funded by 3.5% of the annual Court Penalties and Fines revenue stream. Inspired by the Hotel Tax/CEDA model, the driving concept of this fund is that investing revenue from fines and penalties back into the community is an acknowledgement that investment is the best way to address societal problems. As the city continues to provide more community support over the years, hopefully the fines and penalties revenue stream will begin to fall as a reflection of a healthier community.
Over the last few years, we have built up a significant amount of money in the fund. I would like to utilize this money to fund a part of the Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative grant program in 2024. In a separate amendment, I will increase the percentage going into the Community Wellbeing Fund.
#9 Add Human Resources Intern (Alder Gerhardt)
Description: Add a Human Resources (HR) Intern to start in summer 2024. Since this is a summer position with a discrete project, this can be considered a one-time expense for the 2024 budget.
Rationale: HR requested an Intern for 2024, the only department with an intern request in the coming year. Hiring an intern is a relatively minimal expense that can have positive outcomes for city departments. An HR intern in 2024 will be tasked with carrying out a specific project that will help with long-term hiring and retention. The first possibility is organizing a Youth Job Shadowing Event, a one or two day event to invite young people in the community to learn more about government careers. The other possible project is a mentorship program, which is a formal program for City staff and would be a development tool for employees looking to grow in their careers or learn about other opportunities.
#10 Increase Senior Center Public Information & Education Budget (Alder Allen)
Description: This amendment would add an additional $2,000 to account 100-5460-345 to cover the cost of printing an additional 350 newsletters each month bringing the total to 900.
Rationale: Although the Senior Center sends out over 1,000 newsletters electronically each month, there continues to be a significant portion of the population that does not use computers or prefers a hard copy. The distribution of newsletters has also increased due to the addition of the senior apartment properties; Limerick, Novation Commons, Quarry Ridge and various apartments previously located within the Town of Madison.
The newsletter is a key component of the Senior Center’s outreach efforts and serves as a way to connect with older adults in the community to educate them about programs and services offered.
Also to note, the Senior Center brings in approximately $3,000-$3,500 in revenue from newsletter advertisers each year. This income helps offset the existing printing costs.
#11 Increase Transportation and Transit Committee (TTC) Meetings (Alder Jetzer)
Description: Currently, Transportation and Transit Committee (TTC) meets 10 times per year. This amendment would increase that to 12 times per year.
Rationale: TTC meets between the first and second council meetings of the month, which allows a convenient workflow: items can be referred to TTC at the first council meeting and return to council at the second meeting. However, twice per year that process is delayed by a full month. Additional meeting time also allows for the commission to cover more agenda items and/or shorten the meetings a bit.
#12 Remove Teen Center Design Study (Phase 3) (Alder Herbst)
Description: This amendment removes the $40,000 of TID Closure funding for the Teen Center design study phase 3.
Rationale:
1. A more prudent plan for a teen center would be to rent an available space. There are a number of buildings where rental space would be available and likely at a reasonable cost. The Redeemer Church would seem highest on the list with the Latino Chamber of Commerce building also an option. This would allow an evaluation of concept.
2. A community center is needed more than a teen center. There is no shortage of part time jobs for teens in the area within walking distance.
3. The cost to build a facility in the area is far more than even our most spend happy residents are willing to pay.
4. No money or even potential donors have stepped forward to help fund a new building.
5. Within a short distance of this area is a Boys and Girls Club and the Trades Training Center which received funding and are changing lives. Do we really need another building?
6. The number of teens who would use this is relatively modest compared to the number of teens in District 1.
#13 Increase Funding for Police Facility (Alder Wheeler)
Description: Increase cost to build purpose-built Police Facility from $35,000,000 to $41,000,000.
Rationale: The Fitchburg Police Department needs a new facility due to the lack of space in the current facility and to prepare for the projected growth of the City of Fitchburg and the corresponding growth of the police department. The need was identified in a 2014 Space Needs Analysis and Project Building Program.
Council approved $35,000,000 for a 75,000 sq ft facility in the 2020-2029 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The size of the building was reduced to 50,000 sq ft along with the cost to $25,000,000 in the 2021-2030 CIP. The 2024-2033 CIP allocates $35,000,000 for a 60,000-75,000 sq ft facility.
In 2023 we received an initial estimate of $44,000,000 for a 78,000 sq ft facility. It is likely that the costs could be reduced to $41,000,000 for a 75,000 sq ft facility.
Police facilities are purposely built to meet legal and certification standards which increase costs. Examples of items that increase costs from other types of buildings are:
Evidence collection and storage rooms which must have specialized equipment to protect the integrity of evidence and the health of officers and staff.
Holding cells for arrested persons which must meet legal standards.
Bullet resistant glass and walls to protect employees.
Scenario training bay to keep officers up to date with training requirements.
#14 Reduce Scope of Whalen Road Shoulder Paving (Alder Herbst)
Description: The 2023 budget includes $830,000 for added bike lanes on Whalen Road from Fish Hatchery Road to Fitchrona Road. This amendment requests adding paved shoulder on a few hill sections of the road to improve safety and vehicle sight lines. This reduced scope estimates no more than a few hundred yards of additions. The reduced cost would be determined by public works engineering after review.
Rationale:
1. Whalen Road has small sections up and down hills between Fitchburg Road and Fitchrona where cars would be required to partially cross over into the other lane while passing bikes. Adding a few more sections of paved shoulders will eliminate obstructed vehicle sight lines and improve safety.
2. The section of Whalen Road is not scheduled for repaving until at least 2028. It makes more sense to add paved shoulders at that time.
3. Since Whalen was identified in 2017 as needing paved shoulders, we have added a parallel route on Lacy Road with both bike lanes and a paved path. This reduces the need for bike lanes on Whalen.
4. Whalen Road in Fitchburg ends at Fitchrona Road and Whalen in the Town of Verona. Neither of these have paved shoulders or bike lanes so there is limited value on adding these paved shoulders or bike lanes at this time.
5. A number of residents closer to Fitchrona Road will lose property in their yards if bike lanes are added on this portion of the road.
6. There is no guarantee grants can be procured to pay for the larger project. The larger $830,000 project should only be scheduled to move ahead when/if a grant is procured.
#15 Reinstate Whalen Road Paved Shoulders/Bike Lanes (Alder Allen)
NOTE: Resolution R-177-23 failed at the council meeting on 10/24/23. This amendment is likely to be withdrawn on the floor.
#16 Remove McGaw Park Volleyball Post Replacements (Alder Herbst)
Description: Remove the $15,000 replacement of McGaw Park volleyball court posts from the CIP project for park system improvements.
Rationale: A physical inspection of the posts indicate they are level and in good condition and do not need replacement.
#17 Reinstate Tower Hill Shelter Replacement (Alder Gerhardt)
NOTE: Resolution R-177-23 failed at the council meeting on 10/24/23.
Description: Reinstate Tower Hill Shelter replacement to the 2024 budget, as laid out in the adopted CIP.
Rationale: The Tower Hill Shelter is in disrepair and is overdue for replacement. This was originally slated for 2020 but has been delayed due to budget constraints. The shelter was identified as a 2024 project in the most recent CIP, using ARPA/TID Closure funding. It was removed in anticipation of the approval of Resolution R-177-23 which would allocate the funds this year. Since it is unknown at the time of this amendment submittal if that resolution will pass, I am submitting this amendment to add it back to the budget in the event the resolution fails.
#18 Add Maintenance Costs to Extend the Life of Kids Crossing Playground (Alder Herbst)
Description: Extend the useful life of Kids Crossing Playground at McKee Farms Park by performing maintenance instead of spending $500,000 of city funds and raising $500,000 in donations to replace the playground. Instead of replacement, fundraise a modest amount (estimated $125,000) and utilize community volunteers to perform maintenance and extend the life of the existing structure by at least 10 years.
Rationale:
1. A personal inspection of the structure indicates the expected wear of a structure this old.
2. I found 2 posts showing decay and a number of smaller boards needing replacement but not major structural issues
4. A polling of approximately 20 parents on-site last weekend indicated no dissatisfaction with the existing structure.
5. None of the 20 parents polled indicated their support of spending $500K in city funds and 500K in donations to remove and replace the existing structure
6. The majority of the parents polled indicted they would help with refurbishing activities like sanding/staining/painting and board replacement.
Watch Committee of the Whole Budget Amendment Discussion
On October 23, the council discussed the amendments in depth. You can watch on YouTube. Keep in mind you can watch at 1.5x or 2x speed!