Government Resource Guide
Included below is an overview and key information for city government, the Common Council, and Boards, Commissions and Committees.
City Government
- City of Madison: Vision, Mission & Service Philosophy(opens in a new window)
- Overview of City Government(opens in a new window)
- Qualifications: City Officers, Members of Commissions, & Employees(link is external)
- Budget Process & Citizen Access(opens in a new window)
- Open Meetings Law(opens in a new window)
Common Council
- Council Members and Staff Contact Information(opens in a new window)
- Alder District Maps
- Run for Council
- Madison General Ordinances (MGO): Applicable sections(link is external)
Boards, Commissions & Committees (BCCs)
- Current committees for the City of Madison(link is external)
- Apply to be on a committee
- Madison General Ordinances: Committee Procedures (MGO 33)(link is external)
City Agencies
Use the directory below to access information for each agency (Department/Division) in the City, including mission statement, agency contacts, and links to each agency webpage.
- City Organizational Chart(opens in a new window)
- Assessor's Office(opens in a new window)
- Attorney's Office(opens in a new window)
- Civil Rights, Department of(opens in a new window)
- Clerk's Office(opens in a new window)
- Common Council(opens in a new window)
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)(opens in a new window)
- Finance Department(opens in a new window) (includes Purchasing and Treasury)
- Fire Department(opens in a new window)
- Human Resources Department(opens in a new window)
- Information Technology(opens in a new window)
- Library, Public(opens in a new window)
- Mayor's Office(opens in a new window)
- Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center(opens in a new window)
- Municipal Court(opens in a new window)
- Planning & Community & Economic Development, Department of(opens in a new window)
- Contacts for Department-Related Questions(opens in a new window)
- Office of the Director(opens in a new window)
- Building Inspection Division(opens in a new window)
- Community Development Division(opens in a new window)
- Economic Development Division(opens in a new window)
- CDA Housing Operations Division(opens in a new window)
- Planning Division(opens in a new window)
- Police Department(opens in a new window)
- Public Health Madison & Dane County(opens in a new window)
- Public Works(opens in a new window)
- Transportation(opens in a new window)
- Water Utility(opens in a new window)
Flag of Madison, Wisconsin
The Madison, Wisconsin flag consists of a light blue background bisected from lower left to upper right by a white band. These symbolize Lake Mendota and Lake Monona and the isthmus between them. In the center of the flag is a black cross that symbolizes the four lakes (Mendota, Monona, Wingra and Waubesa) as well as the State Capitol. The gold circle symbolizes the dome of the State Capitol.
The original flag was designed by Rick and Dennis Stone, members of the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps, with the help of John Price, their color guard instructor. It was adopted by the municipal government on April 12, 1962. In 2018, the flag was modified by removing the sun symbol of the Zia Pueblo people and replacing it with a gold circle. The redesigned flag was adopted as the Official Madison City Flag by the Common Council on July 24, 2018.