The Dane County Board of Supervisors has approved the 2022 county budget, according to a statement from the county. The operating budget totals $660,577,196 and the capital budget is $94,175,900. The levy increase included in the budget is 4.4%, which will increase the taxes on the average home by $67.87. Amendments to the budget are measures to address criminal justice reform including:
- $200,000 to expand gun violence prevention;
- $67,617 to establish a pretrial services office;
- Eliminate Huber fees, reducing revenue by $134,000;
- Add a training officer for the sheriff’s office beginning Oct. 1; and
- Increase a legal assistant position in the district attorney’s office for $29,500.
Amendments to support vulnerable populations include:
- $75,000 to update a homeless plan;
- $7,000 for community health equity grants;
- Increase funding by $12,500 to expand the Double Dollar program benefits;
- An additional $15,000 in funding for Afghan refugees;
- $40,000 for a food system assessment;
- $1 million in additional funds for a tiny house project; and
- $3.2 million to convert a hotel into affordable housing for people experiencing homelessness.
Environmental and sustainability amendments include:
- $35,000 to control tree damaging invasives;
- An increase in LTE funding for forestry work by $25,000;
- An additional $300,000 for funding for the future implementation of recommendations from the city of Madison’s Monona Bay watershed study;
- Increasing the SMART fund by $100,000;
- $10,000 in funding to increase the purchase of trees for underserved areas;
- $500,000 in funds for park accessibility projects; and
- $500,000 to purchase a conservation easement at the Voit farm.
