Madison residents will vote on $22 million referendum in November

MADISON, Wis. (WMDX) – Madison residents will vote on a $22 million referendum in November. 

The city is facing a $22 million budget deficit in 2025. Leaders have been publicly discussing potential solutions for months. Behind the scenes, it’s been considered for years.

At a special meeting Tuesday night, the Madison Common Council voted 17-2 to approve putting the referendum on the ballot. 

The median home value in Madison is $457,300 right now. Under the referendum, taxpayers with the median home value would pay an extra $230 per year. 

If the referendum fails, city departments would have to cut 5% of their budgets. 

That would likely result in reduced services and layoffs. The Madison Public Library board released a report that said without the referendum money, the library system could eliminate evening and Sunday hours, and lay off at least three people. 

At public meetings before the Common Council’s vote, residents have spoken on both sides of the issue. Many are concerned about paying for more added taxes during high inflation. Others see the referendum as necessary to keep quality of life high in Madison. 

Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and alders have emphasized that Madison’s budget issues are not because of irresponsible spending. In 2005, the state legislature passed revenue limits, restricting how much money in property taxes municipalities can collect. That has left the city in a structural deficit for more than 10 years. 

If the referendum is approved, Rhodes-Conway has said the city wouldn’t need to consider budget cuts again until at least 2030. 

The Madison Metropolitan School District also has two referendums on the ballot November 5. It’s the first time voters will face referendums from the city and the school district on the same ballot. Voters last approved a referendum for the school district in 2020. Those referendums are expiring. 

One of the proposals asks for $100 million in operating costs. That means it would be used to pay bills and pay staff, without adding any additional programs, employees, or facilities. The other proposal asks for $507 million over the next four years to pay for capital projects, like new schools and extensive updates. 

If both school district referendums pass, they would cost a taxpayer with a median home value more than $1,300 in 2028. If you’d like to see how much your property taxes would be impacted, click here.