City-County Building
Common Council

Week of November 10th

posted 

Dear District 16 Neighbors,

This week, the Common Council will be voting on the 2026 City Budget (both capital and operating). This is a cost-to-continue budget, meaning no significant increases are included. The budget totals $452.5 million, with $125.8 million from revenues and fund balance and $326.6 million from property taxes. This budget reflects the lowest increase in property taxes in 40 years, with an annual increase of only $30.14 for the average value home ($481,300).

Additionally I want to highlight that this year the City has published a digital version of the budget book to increase transparency and ease of understand in the budget process. I hope that you will take a moment to peruse the document and reach out to share your thoughts with me. Additionally, I would encourage you to check out the analysis provided by the nonpartisan Wisconsin Policy Forum for additional insight and details.

This budget makes historic investments in our city's efforts to combat homelessness, with an investment of $1.7 million in the new permanent men’s shelter on Bartillon Drive. The budget also provides support for our libraries and funds the new Imagination Center at Reindahl Park on the East Side. Additionally, it provides support for our first responders by creating nine new paramedic positions and funding a tenth ambulance. The budget also continues to invest in our city's affordable housing fund and the Safe Streets program to provide physical infrastructure updates that make our streets safer for all users.

I am currently sponsoring two amendments in this budget. The first is an amendment to protect a critical food security program, the Double Dollars program.  Previously, the county and city funded this 50/50. However, in their latest budget, the county significantly reduced their support for this program. After working with members of the Food Policy Council, city staff, and others, we were able to come up with a solution that protects Double Dollars by increasing city funding from 50% to 70% so that our neighbors can continue to access fresh, nutritious food – especially in these challenging and uncertain times.

The second amendment that I am co-sponsoring works to reduce the amount of Property Tax Levy that are being used to fund the amendments from the Finance Committee meeting on October 27 and shift those funds to Fund Balance, which has been significantly growing over the last several years.

Budget deliberations are scheduled to begin on Tuesday evening, and you are welcome to watch via Zoom or in person at the City-County Building. You can find the full operating and capital budgets, along with the proposed amendments, online. However, I do want to note that budget amendments can be proposed from the floor during deliberations.

As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out and share your thoughts with me. I’m eager to hear from you!

Yours in service,

Sean

Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of November 10, 2025

Updates and Notices

Public Health Offices Closed: Public Health Offices will be closed on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, for the Veteran's Day holiday. The City of Madison Offices will remain open and operate regular office hours.

Boards, Commissions, and Committee Meetings

Note: This is not a complete list of meetings for this upcoming week. All meetings and their details can be found at the Meeting Schedule page.

If you would like more information about becoming a member of a City board, commission, or committee, please visit the page linked here.

Public Information Meetings (PIMs)

Announcements and News Releases

  • Update: N Franklin Avenue & Lynn Terrace Reconstruction with Utilities Project: On Monday, November 10, N Franklin Avenue and Lynn Terrace will re-open to traffic after the concluding the replacement of aging and deteriorating utilities for N Franklin Avenue and Lynn Terrace. Learn more about this project on Engineering’s… [posted November 7, 2025]
  • 2026 & 2027 Trash and Recycling Schedules Now Available: Tired of being unsure if this week is your recycling week? Worried about mixing up those confusing holiday schedules? Are you just done with wondering if the neighbors you have been relying on to put out their carts first so you can follow their lead… [posted November 6, 2025]
  • Street Closures for Madison Marathon: Several streets in and around downtown will be closed for the Madison Marathon races on Sunday, November 9th. The races all begin on the Capitol Square with the full marathon course taking runners through the UW Arboretum, Vilas Park, around Lake…[posted November 6, 2025]
  • Temporary Perry Street Closure Begins Monday, November 10 : From Monday, November 10 until Tuesday, November 11, Perry Street will close between Jonathon Drive and Stewart Street by Homburg Contractors for utility installation. [posted November 5, 2025]
  • North Randall Avenue - Street Reopened: North Randall Avenue has been reopened to traffic between Campus Drive and West Dayton Street, as of Wednesday morning, November 5. The street had been closed to traffic since May for a UW/DOA utility installation project. [posted November 5, 2025]
  • Madison Public Library's 150th Anniversary Celebrations Wrap Up with 150 Artists x 150 Years Exhibition and Events : MADISON, WI –  The final celebration of Madison Public Library’s 150th Anniversary in 2025 will take the form of an art show highlighting literacy, history, and the wealth of local art connections the library has made over the past 12 years… [posted November 4, 2025]
  • Foods Scraps at the Farmers Market: Season Over and Goal Update: The ability to bring your food scraps to a neighborhood farmers’ markets has ended for 2025.For the winter months, you can use one of the Dane County Scrap Stops to drop off your food scraps. Visit the Dane County website to register for a kiosk… [posted November 4, 2025]
  • Gorham Street Lane Closures: Work began Monday, November 3 on W Gorham Street, between N Broom Street and N Bassett Street, and will last until approximately Friday, November 21. There will be lane closures and vehicle travel lane shifts in place to accommodate utility… [posted November 3, 2025]
  • Updates to Winter Alternate Side Parking Program: The City of Madison is reviewing its Alternate Side Parking Program to find ways to improve safety, efficiency, and communication during winter months.[posted November 3, 2025]
  • Put Your Pumpkins in Your Leaf Piles: Spice up your leaf piles with this season’s jack-o-lanterns. Streets Division crews will collect pumpkins, hay, corn stalks along with your leaves and other yard waste. Remove wires, candles, string, electric lights, and similar items from your… [posted November 3, 2025]

Please visit the City news webpage to find additional news and announcements and to subscribe to receive notification of news releases as they are posted.

Events

Additional upcoming events can also be found on the City events calendar.

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District 16 - Alder O'Brien

Alder Sean O'Brien

Alder Sean O'Brien

District 16
Contact Alder O'Brien