Statement from Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway on State Budget Deal

“Thank you to Governor Tony Evers, Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein, Senator Kelda Roys, and other state leaders on both sides of aisle for listening to Wisconsin communities and securing an increase in funding for the Municipal Services Program in the pending agreement reached on the state budget. It’s a significant step in the right direction for basic fairness and providing property tax relief to our residents. 

The negotiated agreement, announced by the Governor and legislative leaders, returns an additional $14 million this biennium to local governments across the state for the critical public safety resources they provide to state facilities. The last increase in payments to the Municipal Services Program was more than 20 years ago. For decades, towns, villages, and cities have not been fully compensated for supplying police, fire and emergency services to UW System campuses, correctional facilities, and all other state-owned properties — which do not pay local property taxes.  

Total payments to the Municipal Services Program have held flat since 2011 while costs have risen by over 30 percent. Consequently, municipalities are only reimbursed for less than 38 percent of the total bill. The Governor and legislative leaders from both parties recognized the need to correct this imbalance and delivered for local taxpayers across the state. 

I want to thank our legislative leaders and everyone across the state that helped advocate for this common-sense increase. I’m grateful that our coalition-building and strategic advocacy have made a difference.”  

 — Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway