Mayor overspent on travel, but says it'll make Madison better - WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and Sports

MADISON (WKOW) -- Madison Mayor Paul Soglin is spending more money and time outside of the state, but he says the city will be better for it.

According to the Wisconsin State Journal, since taking office in April 2011, Soglin has made 29 out-of-state trips that cost about $30,000. That means he overspent the mayor's office travel budget each of the past two years.

But Soglin tells the State Journal, the meetings, negotiations and insights have helped him and the city deal with important issues like economic development, education and food policy, gangs, transit and the threat of phosphorus to water quality.

Soglin says his out-of-state trips could save taxpayers tens of millions of dollars.