Dane County finalizes spending plan after debating priorities

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Dane County Executive Melissa Agard signed off on next year's spending plans Thursday — budgets that elected officials described as balancing support for "feel-good programs" with funding life-saving needs for residents.

County Board members deliberated the budget Nov. 4 after weeks of public testimony, committee review and collaboration with stakeholders. In a statement, board Chair Patrick Miles said the budget, though it took time to reach compromise on some matters, reflects months of work looking at “what this community needs most right now.”

The 37 supervisors met for hours to discuss last-minute floor amendments and debate whether to set aside money for county agencies and programs such as the Madison Reading Project, vacant deputy sheriff positions, and a transitional housing program. The board-approved 2027 operating and capital budgets keep the tax levy in line with Agard's goal, although she said in a press conference that she was concerned about additional capital spending approved at last week's budget hearing.

Looking ahead, Agard said officials are working on a five-year capital plan to ensure responsible budgeting and give the public a clear understanding of long-term costs.

Housing assistance The 2027 budget includes nearly $30 million in capital funds toward housing and shelter and more than $26 million for the county’s programs that help house people with lower incomes, criminal records and experience navigating homelessness. County Board members also approved $750,000 for land improvements for a potential campground, where people could legally sleep if they are experiencing homelessness or otherwise. The budget also sets aside $2.1 million toward the Salvation Army family shelter and additional funding for an overflow shelter during the winter.

Fee increases County Board members approved increasing what residents get paid for a day’s worth of jury duty from $20 to $30, effective Jan. 1. The fee for cremation services by the Medical Examiner will increase from $365 to $374. Parking at the Alliant Energy Center will now cost $5 more at the gate but will remain $10 when purchased in advance. Trash drop-off fees at the landfill will also increase slightly.

‘Feel-good programs’ vs. life-saving initiatives County Board members also reached a compromise on whether to fund the Madison Reading Project, a nonprofit organization that provides free books to schools and has been expanding its services across Dane County. Board member Yogesh Chawla initially proposed cutting $55,000 in funding, until several other supervisors authored a floor amendment to restore it. Chawla offered a compromise — support the program at half of the original proposed amount — which was approved.

Board member Kierstin Huelsemann, who represents parts of Fitchburg, pondered where the line is drawn between funding “feel-good” programs, such as the Madison Reading Project, and other potential life-saving initiatives such as public safety jobs that have gone unfulfilled.

“Literacy helps end poverty, but so does stable housing, addiction care, getting parents and children themselves out of additional cycles, which lead to poverty,” she said.

“That funding comes from our celebrity philanthropists, and I think this is a feel-good thing for them to do. … There’s more and more funding for these kinds of things and less and less for things like helping mental health, for detox and all other sorts of other services,” Huelsemann added, referencing an earlier debate on how to redirect unspent funding from a detox program.

Chawla, who represents the east Madison area including Williamson Street, where a Madison police officer shot and killed Corey Ruiz this summer, pushed for money for a permanent memorial for victims of police violence. The proposal to amend the 2026 budget to include $25,000 to support a permanent memorial was postponed indefinitely, but the money was included in the 2027 capital budget package. Dane Arts will coordinate efforts to support the memorial's design, creation, artist stipends, and installation.

Dane County Board members deliberated the budget Nov. 4 after weeks of public testimony, committee review and collaboration with stakeholders. RUTHIE HAUGE Public safety and the Sheriff’s Office Board members again discussed the significance of having a fully staffed Sheriff’s Office, especially in rural areas, and discussed turnover in the Sheriff’s Office.

Dane County Director of Administration Shelby Slaven said the Sheriff's Office had 30 hires and 34 separations this year. Newly reelected Sheriff Kalvin Barrett and Deputy Chief Chris Nygaard explained that 20 vacant positions were frozen last year and will reopen in 2027, and that hiring for about 13 positions remains up in the air. They also emphasized that the office is accumulating significant overtime costs because deputies are working long hours, and they presented the decision to County Board members as a choice between paying time-and-a-half or hiring new staff.

Board members representing rural districts used the meeting to remind their colleagues of the importance of funding the Sheriff’s Office, given the prevalence of certain crimes in municipalities outside Madison. Late last month, a man armed with a gun robbed the Bank of Deerfield shortly before it closed, restraining two employees and forcing them to hand over money. No injuries were reported, and Cambridge-Deerfield Police are still searching for the suspect.

Kerry Marren, who represents the Deerfield area, talked about the robbery and said she hopes the board will continue to prioritize funding for law enforcement positions that fill gaps in public safety in smaller communities.

“The Sheriff's Office does so much more than respond to emergencies. … They've helped educate our seniors about fraud and scams, and just as importantly, they've given them a familiar, trusted person to contact,” she said, urging board members to think about the aging populations in the surrounding communities.

“For me, supporting the Sheriff's Office is about more than funding positions. It's about making sure that people in small communities will feel supported, safe and protected,” Marren said.

Dane County Board members representing rural communities emphasized the need for patrols in their areas while debating the Sheriff's Office proposed budget. RUTHIE HAUGE As part of the capital budget, County Board members approved $3 million for body-worn cameras with caveats. To roll out the technology effectively, the elected officials recommend the Sheriff’s Office develop a communications plan to inform the public about their rights and the policy for the technology’s use and hold hearings that center the community’s voice. The supervisors suggested using the Public Protection and Judiciary Committee as the vehicle for at least a month-long period of public comment until the policy is finalized.

Climate, parks and recreation The capital budget also includes a $10 million investment in the Dane County Conservation Fund to support highway and bridge construction, land and water resources, park improvements and upgrades at the Henry Vilas Zoo.

County administration The adopted budget projects about $861 million in operating funds and $94 million in capital spending, allocating slightly more than Agard proposed. The 2027 projected property tax levy is $283.2 million, about $12 million more than this year’s. The tax rate was reduced by about 5 cents per $1,000 of property value, although owners of an average-value home in Madison will likely pay about $5 more for their share of the county’s property taxes.

As officials recognize the historic Nov. 3 elections and imagine local government’s near future under a Democratic trifecta in the state Legislature and governor’s office, they’re determined to push for more support for municipalities. Miles, the County Board chair, said the county needs strengthened partnerships with state and federal agencies, as well as support from the philanthropic community and the private sector

“State aid has not kept pace with the cost of services the state requires us to provide, and federal grants to local governments and nonprofits are shrinking while the burden on residents who rely on them grows,” Miles said. “We will keep making these choices locally. But the strain on this community’s safety net is not something Dane County created, and it is not something we can solve by ourselves.

Jerry Bollig, who represents Oregon, said: "We must stop the practice of removing funds from one department, namely the Sheriff’s Department, to fund other departments. This is a divisive tactic that is unnecessary. Human services should be able to find those funds in their multi-million-dollar budget, which consists of 40% of our total operating budget."

Board member Keith Furman, who chairs the Public Protection & Judiciary Committee, said upcoming budget cycles will likely be hard to balance because of the structural deficit and the difficulty choosing between wants and needs.

“There are just way too many needs in our community that we’re required to address that hit people hard,” he said. “We need to be smart as we continue to try and get a hold of this budget.”

Dane County finalizes spending plan after debating priorities

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