The Madison Common Council approved the city’s 2022 capital and operating budgets after three evenings of deliberations, according to a statement from the city. The Council adopted a $354.2 million capital budget and a $360.3 million operating budget. The 15-year average levy increase for city government has been 4.1%. This year, it will be 1.2%. Priorities of the budgets include:
- Funding to staff an ambulance at Fire Station 14 and expanding eligibility for the ambulance hardship waiver program;
- Supporting the construction of affordable housing;
- Expansion of violence prevention services within the public health department;
- New investments for support of youth programming and jobs;
- Continued support for Bus Rapid Transit;
- Increased efforts to safely and humanely provide solutions to support people experiencing homelessness;
- Continued support for the Madison Community Alternative Response Emergency Services (CARES) program, an alternative response system for mental health 911 calls;
- Equitable service delivery for the new residents from the town of Madison;
- Full funding for the Civilian Oversight Board and Office of the Independent Police Monitor; and
- Funding three community connector positions in the department of civil rights to provide bilingual and bicultural support for residents who speak Spanish, Hmong, and Mandarin.
