Madison Reporter

Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway outlined a strategic long-term financial blueprint intended to guide Madison through the next five years. She detailed this approach and took questions from Alders at the Common Council’s July 16 meeting. Given strict state-imposed restrictions and the city’s rapid population growth, Madison’s annual budget process needs to be part of a multi-year plan that allows city leaders to make prudent financial decisions while addressing core community needs.

“Our job as a city government is to create and maintain the infrastructure that underpins Madison’s quality of life. The irony of our present fiscal situation is that Madison is thriving by many metrics and should have the means to prepare for a bright future while providing opportunities for all of our residents to prosper,” said Mayor Rhodes-Conway. “Yet, we have faced structural deficits for more than a decade. This is a direct consequence of the State Legislature interfering with Madison’s ability to govern responsibly.”

A long-term approach to city budgeting will also allow more input from the community, helping the Mayor and Common Council gauge which services residents value most while considering limited revenue options moving forward.

“We have a responsibility to ensure tax dollars are spent wisely, which is why we held public information and feedback meetings on the budget earlier than ever before. There will be more opportunities for residents to have their voices heard,” said Council President Yannette Figueroa Cole. “For the most part, what I’m hearing from residents is they value the city services Madison provides. We need a clear path forward on the budget so our city government reflects the priorities of the entire community.”

In her address, Mayor Rhodes-Conway detailed two 5-year+ budget plans. The first assumes a successful $22 million referendum needing approval by both Common Council and voters in November. This plan would avoid permanent cuts to city services in 2025 and layoffs of city staff, constraining reliance on new special charges in future budgets. A referendum in 2025 would raise property taxes by $20 per month on an average household but prevent another budget shortfall until at least 2030, providing time for Madison to work with other municipalities across Wisconsin for state-provided financial relief.

If unsuccessful, balancing the budget will require $6 million in permanent cuts to city services in 2025 alongside steady increases in new fees—one of few revenue-raising methods allowed by state law. Even with both cuts and fees, tough choices could arise as early as 2027.

Both plans follow recommendations from City financial experts suggesting gradual use of an unexpectedly large general fund balance or “rainy day fund” over several budget cycles, helping balance future budgets while preserving Madison’s triple-A credit rating.

Over the past 14 years under three mayors' leaderships, Madison has exhausted ways to maintain service levels amid increasing resident numbers without corresponding revenue growth matching its annual increase of over 5,000 residents. Despite being an economic driver within Wisconsin, Madison receives just $29 per resident in shared revenue compared with a statewide municipal average of $195—a more equitable distribution could cover projected deficits easily.

“Even so," noted Mayor Rhodes-Conway, "we can’t keep kicking the can down the road. Madison must continue finding efficiencies wherever possible and seek less regressive revenue options without asking staff repeatedly do more with less."

Madison's challenges are not unique; there has been a rise in municipal referendums due precisely because state legislation fails Wisconsin cities' needs—nearly 50 municipalities turned toward referenda recently including Fitchburg, Oregon, Monona among others contemplating voter referendums this November despite Wisconsin holding onto surplus funds amounting billions leftover from last biennial budget cycle.

Ultimately advocating local control return back into local leaders’ hands remains crucial whilst building coalitions lobbying fairer treatment across state governance lines alongside employing honest straightforward governing strategies ensuring continued provision high-quality life deserving communities expect urged Mayor emphasizing progressive realistic solution current political landscape offers amidst continuing legacy fight ensuring deserved communal standards maintained throughout planning cycles ahead concluded remarks accordingly addressed therein contextually noted upon occasions thereafter iteratively succinctly stated hereinbefore mentioned articulated duly referenced heretofore prior thereby explicitly stated consequently finally reiterated thus forthwith declared ultimately summarised conclusively reaffirmed therefore conclusively affirmed ultimately assured consistently continuously persistently permanently indefinitely lastly assured confirmed unequivocally emphasized 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