With the successful passage of the city of Madison’s $22 million referendum this week, residents avoided having to pay a new infrastructure charge — for now, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.
The monthly property-by-property “infrastructure special charge” is set to go into effect by 2027. It’s aimed at helping the city balance its budget in the event that the state Legislature does not provide more financial support following budget talks next year.
Under the new requirement, properties would be charged based on the level of traffic they generate, with the money compensating for the city’s expenditures on its road upkeep and infrastructure. The untested charge is intended to yield millions in revenue every year, but the Wisconsin court system has struck down similar fees attempted by other municipalities.
The city said the monthly charge for a single-family home would be $6.35.
