Public Comment on Property Tax Referendum Resolution Scheduled for August 6

Common Council August 6 Discussion of a Tax Referendum

The Madison Common Council is encouraging residents to submit public testimony on an important resolution affecting the City budget at its next meeting on Tuesday, August 6 at 6:30 p.m.

If adopted, the resolution would place a referendum on the November 5 general election ballot. The referendum would authorize an increase of $22 million to the state-imposed property tax levy limit to allow the City to continue to fund police, fire, garbage collection, parks and library operations, and other City services and operations.  

To register to speak in-person or virtually at the August 6 meeting, please fill out this form. The agenda item for the referendum resolution is 84443. You can also register to speak at the City County Building the day of the meeting.  

You can submit written comments on the referendum resolution by emailing allalders@cityofmadison.com.  

The Council meeting on August 6 is the community’s opportunity to have their voice heard on this vital City budget issue. A special virtual council meeting will then be held on August 20 for alders to take a final vote on the resolution. This is due to final figures from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, needed for the referendum resolution, not being ready until after August 15.  

Please note, in-person or virtual public testimony on the referendum resolution will only take place at the August 6 meeting. However, you can submit written comments to your elected officials anytime between now and August 20.  

More information on the 2025 budget process is available on the City’s Budget Outlook page.  

• Watch Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway's presentation outlining a sustainable long-term budget plan for Madison’s budget delivered at the July 16 Council meeting.
• Read the Mayor’s memo to Alders.
• See answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the budget and a potential referendum.
• Check out some interesting facts and figures about Madison’s budget.  

Planned District 19 Meetings on Budget

Within the next few weeks alders will receive agency suggestions for service reductions they would propose to make, if their agency budget is cut by 5%. This will be new information, and a critical component of the kinds of decisions alders will need to make by mid-November. Let me add that by the time we finalize a budget, some agencies may be cut more than 5% and some less. This is a starting point. Let me also emphasize that whether or not there is a referendum, and whether or not a referendum is approved, our five-year planning shows that some service cuts will be inevitable.

I plan to hold several meetings in September and October for District 19 residents (although they are public meetings and anyone may attend). Depending on venue arrangements, I hope to host two in-person meetings and one virtual meeting.

These will not be staff presentations. Rather, I will be making the presentations about what I know of the decisions I will need to participate in. I will not be arguing particular positions, but asking for your input. Please help me with your insights that will affect not just 2025 but several years to come.

In these sessions, I will also focus on a short list of complicated subjects that were identified in the initial meetings. I may have some staff people help me explain some of the more complicated details.

When the logistics are finalized, I plan on mailing details to every District 19 resident.