Budget

The City of Madison’s Operating and Capital Budgets are planning and financial documents that detail how the City pays for services and infrastructure that benefit City residents. The Operating Budget funds daily operations, including staff salaries, community-based organizations that deliver services on behalf of the City, and other costs such as supplies and equipment. The Capital Budget funds physical infrastructure like roads, bike lanes, building improvements, affordable housing developments, and other projects. 

Budget development is a multi-step process that involves City agencies, the Finance Committee, and Common Council. To review each phase of the budget, click on each year to expand the timeline and view additional details. 

2025 Budget

2025 Capital Budget Process:

StepTitleDue Date
Budget KickoffMarch 19, 2024
Agency RequestsApril 19, 2024
Executive BudgetSeptember 10, 2024
Finance Committee HearingsSeptember 16, 17 & 30, 2024
Common Council HearingsNovember 12-14, 2024
6.Adopted BudgetJanuary 2025

2025 Operating Budget Process: 

StepTitleDue Date
Budget KickoffJune 17,  2024
Agency RequestsJuly 19, 2024
Executive BudgetOctober 8, 2024
Finance Committee HearingsOctober 14, 15, & 28, 2024
Common Council HearingsNovember 12-14, 2024
6.Adopted BudgetJanuary 2025

2025 Budget Outlook

Review the 2025 Budget Outlook for an in-depth explanation of current budget challenges.  Presentations from the City of Madison Finance Director and additional materials  are available. 

2024 Budget

Capital Budget: $273.1 Million

The 2024 Capital Investment Plan includes funding for 2024 and outlines future investments for 2025 - 2029.

Operating Budget: $405.4 Million

The Operating Budget total includes City operating expenses within the General and Library Funds.

2024 Adopted Budget

2024 Capital Budget Process:

StepTitleDue Date
Budget KickoffMarch 21, 2023
Agency RequestsApril 21, 2023
Executive Budget     Sept. 5, 2023
Finance Committee HearingsSeptember 11, 12, & 26, 2023
Common Council HearingsNovember 14-16, 2023
Adopted BudgetJanuary 2024

2024 Operating Budget Process: 

StepTitleDue Date
Budget KickoffJune 20, 2023
Agency RequestsJuly 21, 2023
Executive Budget  Oct. 3, 2023
Finance Committee HearingsOctober 9, 10, & 23, 2023
Common Council HearingsNovember 14-16, 2023
Adopted BudgetJanuary 2024

Public Information Sessions on the 2024 Budget

City Finance staff hosted two information sessions on the 2024 budget on October 30 and November 1. Recordings of the sessions are available on the City Channel, and a copy of the presentation are now available. The meeting included an overview of the budget process and highlights of the executive capital and operating budgets.

2023 Budget

Capital Budget: $376.5 Million

The 2023 Capital Investment Plan includes funding for 2023 and outlines future investments for 2024 - 2028.

Operating Budget: $382.3 Million

The Operating Budget total includes City operating expenses within the General and Library Funds.

2023 Adopted Budget

2023 Capital Budget Process:

StepTitleDue Date
Budget KickoffMarch 22, 2022
Agency RequestsApril 22, 2022
Executive BudgetSeptember 6, 2022
Finance Committee Hearings September 12, 13, & 28, 2022
Common Council HearingsNovember 15-17, 2022
Adopted BudgetJanuary 2023

2023 Operating Budget Process: 

StepTitleDue Date
Budget KickoffJune 21, 2022
Agency RequestsJuly 22, 2022
Executive BudgetOctober 11, 2022
Finance Committee HearingsOctober 17, 18, & 31, 2022
Common Council HearingsNovember 15-17, 2022
Adopted BudgetJanuary 2023

Public Information Sessions on the 2023 Budget

City Finance staff hosted two information sessions on the 2023 budget on October 13 and October 24. Recordings of the sessions are available on the City's YouTube site, and a copy of the presentation are now available. The meeting included an overview of the budget process and highlights of the executive capital and operating budgets.

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)

The American Rescue Plan Act provided federal funding to state and local governments to support recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cost Allocation Plan

The City completes an annual cost allocation plan to accurately and consistently allocate central service costs to enterprise agencies receiving services. Charges associated with cost allocation are reflected in the inter-departmental charges and billings in the operating budget. 

The plan is developed using actual expenditure data from the prior year. For the 2025 budget, the plan will be developed in 2024, using actuals from 2023. 

Budget Definitions

Capital Budget: The capital budget provides funding for the City’s major construction projects including building new facilities, improving our transit system, maintaining our roads and parks, and purchasing major equipment.

Operating Budget: The operating budget provides money for running City departments and services. It pays for the day-to-day spending on employees and materials and supplies.

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