Finally, after years of delay and frustration, Madison is getting a new central library.

The City Council late Tuesday dropped the most serious objections to Mayor Dave Cieslewicz's financing plan for the $37 million, six-story, glass and stone library, meaning construction could start next year.

Activist Stuart Levitan summed up sentiment in the chambers, telling the council, "For 135 years the city of Madison has supported its public library. ... If you honor that past, the future will honor you."

Cieslewicz, who took a political risk in proposing the library in a troubled economy, wants to use $17 million in borrowing, $6 million federal tax credits, $4 million from the sale of the existing library site and $10 million in private fundraising over three years to pursue the Fiore Cos.' proposal for a facility at Henry Street and West Washington Avenue that would be part of a larger development.

In the end, the mayor won a sweeping victory with broad support on the council and no public testimony against the project.

The main concern was that the new library not divert money from branch updates and additions.

Ald. Michael Schumacher, 18th District, smoothed the path by revising a proposed amendment that would have delayed any binding contracts on the library project until the tax credits and at least $4 million in private funds had been pledged.

Instead, the council approved Schumacher's compromise to ensure no significant construction can begin until the tax credits were available, a caution the city would have taken anyway.

"It's good comfort language," Schumacher said.

A delay based on securing fundraising would have meant "a significantly higher cost to taxpayers," Fiore executive vice president William Kunkler said.

By 12:35 a.m., the council still had to consider two more amendments -- including one on $16 million in public support for the proposed redevelopment of the Edgewater hotel and another on spending $5 million to buy undeveloped land elsewhere for future development -- before voting on a capital budget.

But the council adjourned the meeting until 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, when it will finish the capital budget and consider the mayor's proposed $239.4 million operating budget.

But the library was all but certain to be part of the final capital spending plan.

The community can move forward "starting tomorrow," Library Board President Tripp Widder said.

It was unclear late Tuesday how long budget deliberations would continue. The council had the option of continuing debate on the mayor's capital budget and proposed $239.4 million operating budget at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The Library Board has explored a renovation of the worn, 44-year-old, 95,000-square-foot library, which has serious maintenance problems, but long preferred a new, state-of-the art facility.

The new library, with a two-story entrance, higher ceilings, lots of glass, a rooftop patio and 105,000 square feet of space, would be built first. A second phase would offer a 380,000-square-foot mixed-use project likely with an upscale hotel, retail space and 425 parking spaces on the current library site. The cost of the full redevelopment is estimated at $88 million.

Library supporters cited the need to replace the current facility, low construction costs and needed jobs. No one testified against the project.

"This has been so may years in the making it's unreal," Ald. Mike Verveer, 4th District, said of the vote. "This is a momentous evening."

The council also overwhelmingly approved a budget amendment Tuesday directing city staff to explore the feasibility of a community garden or green roof atop the new library.

The mayor could have delayed action or pursued a $27 million renovation, but an analysis showed that, due to tax revenues, a new facility would be cheaper or cost the same as renovation over 15 years, depending what is built in the second phase.

If approvals are secured, construction on the library could begin in 2010 with an opening in 2012, and the second phase would be completed two years later.

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