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- calendar_today October 19, 2026
Overview of Madison's 2027 Budget Process
The City of Madison's proposed operating budget for 2027 stands at $477.5 million, according to Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway's executive budget proposal. City leaders are finalizing the operating and capital budgets before a scheduled vote in November. As part of this process, city department heads present their funding cases to the finance committee, which then submits recommendations to the full council for approval.
Cost to Continue and New Initiatives
The mayor’s budget proposal is primarily a “cost to continue” plan, maintaining consistent funding with few new major expenditures. Noted exceptions include an expedited body-worn camera program for Madison police, partially funded by a $350,000 grant, a city-wide compensation study, and ongoing support for recent initiatives like the tenth city ambulance and the new Imagination Center library.
Updates from City Departments
- City Clerk’s Office: The office is currently storing election equipment near the Beltline. Negotiations continue about a potential permanent home at the new county elections center. The proposed operating budget for the clerk’s office is $3.63 million.
- City Assessor: Defending property assessments has reportedly saved residential taxpayers about $500 per parcel, with the proposed department budget at $4.13 million.
- Parks Division: The division will stop mailing postcards for public meetings due to cost, aiming to adopt alternative methods for public notifications. The parks budget stands at $23 million.
- Madison Fire Department: There has been a 31% increase in 911 EMS calls since 2021, a rate nearly double the city’s population growth. The department expects response availability to improve with the recent addition of a tenth ambulance. The fire department’s proposed budget is $83.4 million.
- Planning Division: Developing area plans currently consumes a quarter of planner staff time, and the division is also preparing to comply with the state's new "truth in planning" law. The planning budget is $4.32 million.
- Information Technology (IT): Software costs have increased by nearly $1 million, reflecting a shift to subscription-based cloud services. The IT budget is $12.8 million.
- Parking Utility: The redeveloped State Street parking ramp is open, but the start of regional bus service at the site is delayed, with at least one company expected to begin service in November. The budget for the parking utility is $20.4 million.
- Metro Transit: The city’s bus system faces mechanical challenges as both electric and aging diesel buses require significant repairs. However, new hybrid buses are planned for 2027. The transit budget totals $92.5 million.
Budget Challenges: State Limits and Expenditure Restraints
The dominant budget challenge this year centers on state limits on expenditures rather than revenue constraints. Under the state's Expenditure Restraint Program (ERIP), the city would face penalties of over $9 million if budget growth exceeds the inflation rate, a significant shift from previous years when levy limits were the primary constraint.
Property Taxes: Mill Rate Declines, Bills Increase
Though Madison’s property tax rate is at a historic low, most homeowners will see a higher bill. The property tax levy is up 3.4%, but the total assessed value citywide has risen 4.7%, resulting in a 1.2% reduction in the mill rate. The average-value home, now $500,300, will see taxes rise by approximately $90.
Next Steps and Public Participation
Final hearings on the capital and operating budgets are scheduled for November 10, 11, and 12. City officials continue budget discussions, and alders may propose amendments. The public can access the budget documents and hearing schedules on the city’s website. Recordings of recent finance committee briefings are available on YouTube and the Madison City Channel for those interested in viewing the full discussions.
Source: isthmus.com.
