2020 Budget Overview

Last week the Finance Committee met for nearly 14 hours to listen to agency presentations on the mayor's proposed 2020 Executive Operating Budget. You can watch those meetings online and access the materials here. 

Finance Committee will consider amendments to the proposed operating budget on October 21st and will then forward their recommendations on to the Common Council for final deliberation and approval during budget sessions on November 12-14. The presentations and amendments on the proposed 2020 Capital budget occurred at Finance Committee in September (video here and recommended capital budget with amendments here) and will also be debated and voted on by the Council in November.

The budget item that has seemed to generate the most questions from residents is the mayor's proposal to institute a $40 Vehicle Registration Fee (Wheel Tax) for vehicles stored in the city. This would be in addition to the $85 and $28 registration fees currently charged by the State of Wisconsin and Dane County respectively. If approved, Madison would join 24 other municipalities and 12 counties in Wisconsin in charging a vehicle registration fee.

My colleague in District 19, Alder Furman, has written an excellent and detailed post with links to additional information that I would encourage you to read here. My opinion on the merits of implementing this fee are similar to what he states. I would prefer a different, less regressive way to raise the needed revenues to cover our current and proposed services and I remain open to any ideas put forward that could help reduce the need for this fee, but am doubtful that we will find such a solution short of drastic cuts to the many services our residents expect. 

I will be sharing out more information on the budget as deliberations continue and appreciate all of those that have reached out to me to share your opinions. This is very difficult and detailed work and I appreciate the confidence and trust that many of you have communicated to me.