Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz wants to move forward on a new Downtown central library and push other projects while trying to limit new borrowing next year.

Cieslewicz on Tuesday proposed a $154.7 million capital budget for 2009, including $1.7 million for the central library and $28.3 million more in 2010 with costs split between the public and private sectors.

This spring, developer Terrence Wall proposed demolishing the dated library on the 200 block of West Mifflin Street and replacing it with a $45 million, nine-story, glass and stone structure with ground-floor retail, a three-story library and private offices above it.

The city will soon make a request for proposals open to Wall or any developer who wants to team with the city on the project.

"It's meeting a long-term commitment," Cieslewicz said. "I'm encouraged by the movement we've seen in the last six months or so. I want to show the city's commitment is real."

The proposed capital budget — used for major investments such as infrastructure improvements, buildings and buses — also includes $3 million to redevelop a troubled area near West Badger Road and South Park Street, $28 million for major streets and $1.2 million for a 570-stall parking garage behind the Madison Municipal Building. That project would need $14.2 million more in 2010.

"There is a lot in flux there," Cieslewicz said of the parking garage. "This one is a long way from being finalized."

The budget reauthorizes $19.1 million in borrowing for projects not started in 2008 and seeks $57.6 million in new borrowing. The rest of the money comes from state, federal and other sources.

Cieslewicz, who introduced the capital budget to the City Council on Tuesday night, also would deliver $1.9 million for a new Far West Side fire station, $2 million to renovate police facilities in the City-County Building, $3.5 million for the new South Side library at the Villager Mall and $2.6 million for other improvements at the mall.

The mayor will propose an operating budget Oct. 7, and the council will adopt both budgets the week of Nov. 11.

Council President Tim Bruer likes the capital budget. "It reflects a commitment to maintain the infrastructure of the city, support basic services, a commitment to the library and high-priority initiatives in neighborhoods that have been left behind," he said.

The mayor's proposal is $23 million less than sought by agencies and new borrowing is $7.3 million below the target set in the 2008 Capital Improvement Program passed in 2007.

Still, authorized borrowing has dramatically increased from $33.6 million in the mayor's first budget in 2004 to a record $92.7 million in 2008. The city, however, delays some projects and doesn't borrow everything authorized.

"I don't think there's anything extravagant here," Cieslewicz. "They're prudent and necessary investments."

All the borrowing is straining the operating budget, comptroller Dean Brasser said. The $6.25 million jump in debt service payments is the single largest cost increase facing the city next year.

The mayor says he's made necessary investments, including the city's first new fire stations in 25 years.

PROPOSED CAPITAL BUDGET

Highlights of Mayor Dave Cieslewicz's proposed $154.67 million capital budget for 2009. "In" indicates funded project. "Out" indicates unfunded request. "Future" indicates projected funding that may or may not be in that year's proposed budget.

POLICE: $494,500. In: $220,000 for records management and $139,000 to improve North District precinct. Out: $64,000 for rifles. Future: $3 million to improve radios in 2011.

FIRE: $2.98 million. In: $1.9 million for new Far West station. Out: $125,000 for building improvements. Future: $2 million for new communications equipment in 2011.

PARKS: $4 million. In: $1.2 million for Tenney Park shelter. Out: $380,000 for pruning equipment and $100,000 for Brittingham picnic shelter. Future: $1.2 million for James Madison Park in 2010.

ENGINEERING/MAJOR STREETS: $64.36 million. In: $16.4 million for East Washington Avenue, $7.94 million for Monona Drive, $2.9 million for Hoepker Road, $2.53 million for Campus Drive, $5.3 million for street reconstruction, and $4.65 for pavement management. Out: $2.8 million for Lein Road. Future: $2.8 million for Lein Road in 2010, $18.5 million for Highway 113 in 2012 and 2013.

METRO TRANSIT: $4.16 million. In: $3.46 million for new buses. Out: All requests funded. Future: $3.2 million for upgrading farebox system in 2010 and $60.37 million for building remodeling and expansion from 2010 through 2014.

LIBRARY: $5.3 million. In: $1.7 for design and planning of new Central Library and $3.5 million for new South Side branch. Out: $500,000 for new Northeast side branch. Future: $28.3 million to complete new Central Library in 2010.

PARKING UTILITY: $2.58 million. In: $1.2 million to start construction of 570-stall parking garage on surface lot of Madison Municipal Building site and $740,000 for parking revenue equipment. Out: $1 million for Brayton lot garage. Future: $14.25 million to complete Municipal building garage in 2010. (After construction, Government East lot can be demolished for redevelopment.)

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT: $12.1 million. In: $5.7 million for Villager Mall redevelopment, $3 million for redevelopment in the Badger Road, South Park Street, Cypress Way and Hughes Street area, and $1.5 million for Phase II of Allied Drive redevelopment. Out: $1.2 million for housing rehabilitation services program, $1 million for capital revolving fund, and $1 million for economic development facilitation fund. Future: $7.1 million for Villager Mall in 2011.

FACILITIES: $5.6 million. In: $1.94 million for Central Police District renovations, $1.6 million for development services center in Madison Municipal Building, and $600,000 to remodel City Council chambers. Out: $2 million more in police headquarters remodeling and $440,000 for City-County Building remodeling. Future: $2 million for Fire Department heating and air conditioning in 2011 and 2012.

WATER UTILITY: $12.83 million. In: $2.67 for Booster Station at Todd Drive. Out: All requests funded. Future: $10.7 million for automated meter reading system in 2010 and 2011.