Madison Reporter

Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway has unveiled her 2025 Executive Operating Budget for Madison, focusing on funding services and staff essential to maintaining the city's quality of life. The budget accompanies the 2025 Executive Capital Budget, released earlier in September.

Madison faces significant revenue challenges due to state legislature-imposed caps, resulting in a $22 million structural deficit. To address this, city leaders are proposing a $22 million funding referendum for November's ballot. Mayor Rhodes-Conway emphasizes the importance of investing in city services, stating, "Madison provides basic services that are widely supported and valued by our community."

The budget requires all departments to cut their budgets by 1%, saving taxpayers $3.4 million. Other measures include reallocating funds from less active areas to more critical needs like violence prevention and adding new Street Machine Operators to meet growing demands.

An alternative plan is also outlined should the referendum fail. This involves cutting $5.6 million in services, introducing $10 million in special charges, and using some fund balance to close the gap. The cuts would eliminate at least 18.2 full-time positions and affect various sectors including public safety and government services.

Mayor Rhodes-Conway criticizes state restrictions on local growth: “Cuts like these shouldn’t be needed in a growing and thriving city.” She advocates for legislative change to allow cities like Madison to benefit fully from economic growth.

Public hearings on the budget will occur at City Finance Committee meetings on October 14 and 15, with final decisions by the Common Council scheduled for mid-November.