Helping Madison Families Save on Utility Bills

Message from the Mayor

This week, I introduced legislation with my Council colleagues to continue a great program that assists many Madison families with their utility bills. It’s called MadCAP and, for income-qualified renters and homeowners, it provides up to $30 a month credit on Municipal Services Bill. The credit goes toward water, sewer, stormwater, urban forestry, resource recovery, and landfill services.  

MadCAP is one way the City of Madison is directly helping Madisonians stay ahead of rising costs. We started this program in 2023 and the credit was initially covered by Madison Water Utility ratepayers. However, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin recently ruled that the program could only continue if it was funded by non-utility sources.  

One benefit of this development is it will simplify and hopefully expand access to MadCAP to even more Madison families. Keeping Madison affordable is one of my top priorities and I highly encourage you to see if you, a loved one, or friend might be eligible and to sign up.  

Take care,
Mayor Satya 

City Updates  

• Common Council Approves Investments into Affordable Homeownership 
• D7 Lunch and Learn: Understanding Property Taxes with Alder Badri Lankella 
• Madison Public Library Celebrates the Legacy of Agatha Christie at Meadowridge Library This March 
• Finalist Public Art Designs Released for State Street Campus Garage/Hawthorne Court  
• Madison Public Library Receives $20,000 from the Carnegie Corporation of New York 
• How to Identify Madison Police Unmarked Squad Cars and Officers 

Federal Law Enforcement Action  

Community groups Centro Hispano and Voces de la Frontera confirmed multiple reports of federal enforcement activity in Dane County this week. Please visit the City of Madison's Know Your Rights page for resources to help everyone in our community feel safe. This includes guidance on how to create a Family Safety Plan, which is important for every family to have in the event of an unexpected emergency.  

Help Shape the Future of Olbrich Botanical Gardens

Olbrich Botanical Gardens is seeking your feedback to help guide its first comprehensive planning process in 25 years. Since 2000, Olbrich's annual attendance has grown from 240,000 guests to a record 370,000 guests in 2024.  

This is a pivotal point in Olbrich's history, and the opportunities are boundless. We're excited to imagine together what this public amenity could become in 20 years and to start planning how to get there. 

The purpose of the comprehensive plan is to help align our mission and vision with the City of Madison's larger long-term goals. Specifically, the plan will: 

• Address aging infrastructure 

• Explore potential garden expansion 

• Envision Olbrich's future, while addressing the needs of a growing local community and tourism audience 

There will be in-person opportunities for the community to help envision the future of Olbrich Botanical Gardens on March 17 and May 20. You can also share your input via an online survey. 

Madison in the News

What would you like to see in the City Newsletter?

Please contact City Communications Manager Dylan Brogan to flag any suggestions.