First in a Series of Budget Engagement Sessions will be Held on June 2nd at 6:00 pm in the Downtown Central Library

On Tuesday, June 2, the City of Madison is hosting its first of three Budget Engagement Sessions. These sessions are an opportunity to learn more about the City Budget process and provide feedback to policymakers on priorities for Madison's future.  

The first session will focus on Justice & Public Safety and feature staff and information from the Attorney's Office, Department of Civil Rights, Fire, Municipal Court, Office of Independent Police Monitor, Police, and Public Health. 

After the open house, Finance Director Dave Schmiedicke will do a short presentation about the City of Madison budget process for 2027, followed by a Q&A with several alders. The goal of these public meetings is to provide an opportunity for you to speak directly with City staff about your ideas, concerns, and priorities for Madison's future. Please consider attending this informational meeting and use this link to register.

Session 1: Justice & Public Safety

Departments: City Attorney, Department of Civil Rights, Fire, Municipal Court, Office of Independent Police Monitor, Police, Public Health. 
When: June 2nd 6:00-8:00pm 
Where: Central Library  (external)

Session 2: City Facilities & Services

Departments: City Assessor, City Clerk, Employee Assistance Program, Engineering, Fleet, Human Resources, Information Technology, Public Library, Monona Terrace,  Parks, Streets & Urban Forestry, Water Utility.
When: June 11th 6:00-8:00pm
Where: Memorial Highschool

Session 3: Planning & Transportation

Departments: Building Inspection, Community Development Authority, Community Development Division, Economic Development Division, Metro, Planning, Parking, Traffic Engineering.  
When: June 24th 6:00-8:00pm 
Where: Warner Park Community Recreation Center

About the City Budget: 

The budget is divided into two main parts, the Capital Budget and the Operating Budget, and covers city spending for one year (January 1st - Dec. 31st).

The Capital Budget funds the City's major construction projects including building new facilities, improving our transit system, maintaining our roads and parks, and purchasing major equipment. The Capital Budget also includes the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Which outlines a spending plan on capital projects for the next five years. 

The Operating Budget is what provides money for running City departments and services. It pays for the day-to-day spending on employees and materials and supplies. It is constrained by many state laws that regulate the income and spending that is allowed. In the 2026 Budget, the Expenditure Restraint Incentive Program was the main limitation to future investments by the city. 

For a deeper dive, I would recommend checking out this presentation(opens in a new window)PDF on the city's budget process.

Budget Timeline: 

You can find a link to the full budget calendar here. At the May 11th meeting of the Finance Committee, a presentation on the Capital Budget Requests was given. Recording of the meeting is available on the city website.  Presentations on the budget will be coming regularly before the Finance Committee – you can find the committee agendas and upcoming meetings listed on the city website.