Legistar 84443- Referendum Ballot Question

Update 8/5/2024

Reminder: Tomorrow's meeting will contain Legistar 84443 asking to authorize placing the referendum question on the ballot. See original blog below to learn how to register.

Current Process and Next Steps:

• 8/5 Agency Budget Requests were released
  • Agencies provided a cost of continuing budget and 5% cut scenarios. The impact is summarized in a table at the bottom of each request.
  • Enterprise Agencies that are 100% self-sustained will not have the table summary. (e.g. Monona Terrace, Parking Utility, Water, Stormwater, Golf, etc.)
    • Metro is an enterprise but receives general funds. Look for the table summary at the end of their file.
  • Public Health is a shared city and county budget; the summary table only refers to the city portion.
    • Public Health Staff is under the County payroll. Hence, the 5% cuts impact service-purchased contracts only.
• 8/6 Directing Staff to place the question on the November ballot
  • Email alders, Register your input or Register to Speak
• 8/7 - 8/20 Submit your Questions via email, contact your alders directly or email Allalders@cityofmadison.com
• 8/20 Council special session to vote to place the referendum question on the ballot
  • 11 votes are required to authorize the question
  • Council, via resolution, directed Staff to provide budget options.
  • Since then, the Finance Director has updated the Council during Council & Finance meetings.
  • During the last meeting, the Finance Director presented two five-year plans to the council; both contain a combination of rainy day funds, efficiencies/revenues, special charges, and cuts.
    • Last Council meeting; supporting documents are attached to legistar file 84443
• After 8/20, Regardless of the outcome of the council vote, the regular budget process continues with multiple public hearings in Finance and Council meetings.

VISIT THE CITY BUDGET PAGE

• Learn about the 2025 Budget Timeline
• Access the Agency Budget Asks
• Click on the 2025 Budget Outlook
  • Watch the Information Series on the 2025 Outlook videos presented by the Finance Director.
  • Read the  2025 Budget Frequently Asked Questions
  • Download a table with the City of Madison 2025 cost-to-continue Operating budget by Agency.
  • Learn about other Wisconsin Municipalities Referendums 

Hola, 

Referenda Question

Legistar file 84443, which pertains to the referenda question, was introduced at the last Council meeting as part of the consent agenda. The file was listed under "Introduced from the Floor"; scroll to the last item on page 3.

The Council's regular schedule called for one meeting in August (8/6), and the state won't release levy values until after the August 6 meeting; a Special Meeting was scheduled to discuss and vote on legistar file 84443 to meet the deadline for questions to be placed on the November General Election ballot. As the consent agenda states, the alders and mayor will hear public comments on legistar file 84443 during the Council's regular meeting next week.

File 84443 directs the Clerk's office to place the referenda question on the general election ballot. State statute dictates the question format and general language. The values in brackets are estimates, not actuals. Once the state releases the levy values, the bracketed values will be updated in the resolution to proceed with the discussion and vote during the special meeting on 8/20. This referendum is a crucial decision to determine the future funding for essential city services, and your input is part of the decision-making.

To learn more about the budget, watch the Staff's presentation during the last Council meeting; supporting documents are attached to legistar file 84443.

Who is impacted by the City Budget?

1-People who contribute to the property tax base: Homeowners, Renters, Business Owners not excluded by the state, and Business Owners excluded by the state but electing to pay their fair tax share.

2-Public Servants: Every city employee running daily basic needs operations in Madison that keep the city safe, healthy, and vibrant.

3-Non-Profit Organizations who depend on city funding to supplement the services the city and county cannot afford to offer.

4-Everyone in the City of Madison: The budget touches the people within our neighborhoods struggling to put food on their tables, who can't afford safe housing, seniors living on fixed incomes without the safeguard of home equity, and every other individual in Madison who benefits from regular services.

Who do we want to hear from?

1- Mark your calendars to provide public input during the August 6 Council meeting or e-mail allalders@cityofmadison.com anytime to share your feedback on the referendum.

2-For people working multiple jobs to stay afloat or for those whose priority is to have dinner ready for the kids during the council meeting or going to school and working while raising a family, or are a single mother or a single father with limited resources, or you are unsheltered without access to a phone or a place to charge it or keep it charged while waiting your turn on the queue, or any other person who lives gets on the way to participate, you can e-mail allalders@cityofmadison.com to share your experience.

3-If you cannot attend the meeting, call or send an e-mail, don't hesitate to contact me directly via text/phone at 608-318-3838.

I make decisions based on research, facts, input from e-mails, calls, public comments, community events engagements, as well as from the voices we never hear from. Each of these information sources are valued during my decision-making process.

To register to speak or to share your position on any topic on the agenda including 84443:

Meeting Registration | City of Madison, WI

To send comments via e-mail: allalders@cityofmadison.com

To reach me directly: district10@cityofmadison.com