UP: Bus riders. Members of the Transit and Parking Commission defy Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and vote 7-2 against his proposal to raise Madison Metro's cash fare by 50 cents, to $2. Commission members question the size of next year's projected $682,000 budget gap, and say a fare increase would depress ridership. Metro will now look at other options, like reducing services.
DOWN: Madison Cultural Arts District. The board, which oversees the Overture Center, is criticized for not being more open with its budget process. Ald. Mike Verveer says the board voted to cut 15 Overture positions at an 8 a.m. meeting that was not attended by the public or union reps. The board earlier held a closed budget meeting and refused to publicly release budget documents. The board promises to review its budget process.