Madison Reporter

Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway expressed her gratitude to the Madison Common Council for adopting the 2025 budget. She acknowledged their role in making strategic investments in the city's future. The mayor noted, "This was not an ordinary budget year, and it required decision-making by everybody in our community."

Rhodes-Conway praised the council for organizing public engagement sessions during the budget process, which helped inform voters about the city budget and funding referendum before it was placed on the ballot.

The mayor also extended her thanks to Madison residents for their strong support of city services through their votes this November. She said, "There are still challenges ahead but with the breathing room the referendum provides, Madison is in a much better position to continue our work towards building a healthy, equitable, and thriving City for all who call it home."

The 2025 budget focuses on continuing investments that have proven effective in Madison. It supports the growth of the CARES team, which has been successful enough to attract interest from neighboring cities looking to expand similar programs into their communities.

Furthermore, the budget advances efforts to make The Imagination Center at Reindahl Park a reality. According to Rhodes-Conway, "We have wonderful library services in Madison and the Imagination Center will help us ensure all neighborhoods have ready access to those important resources."

The budget also emphasizes investment in affordable housing at record levels while maintaining strong city finances and manageable debt levels. Important infrastructure projects include replacing aging bridges on John Nolen Drive and investing in traffic safety measures as part of the Vision Zero initiative.

Reflecting on Madison's growth and reputation as a curious, innovative, and welcoming city, Rhodes-Conway stated: "I’m proud that we are a community that protects our neighbors and stands up for what’s right." She concluded by expressing her appreciation to both the council and community for making spending choices aligned with these values throughout this year's budget process.