Dane County Executive Melissa Agard on Wednesday introduced her 2026 Executive Budget, which closes a $31 million structural deficit.
The 2026 budget totals $903.6 million, a 3% decrease from last year. It includes an operating budget of $825.1 million and a capital budget of $78.5 million, down 30% from 2025.
The budget lowers Dane County’s property tax rate to $2.48 per $1,000 of equalized value, while the average Madison homeowner will see a levy increase of $15.23 — the lowest percentage increase since 2019.
Between 2019 and 2025, the total county budget (operating and capital) has gone from $630 million in 2019 to $926 million in 2025, a 47.02% increase.
Agard’s budget will be reviewed by the Dane County Board of Supervisors, with final adoption expected later this fall. Click here to learn more.
