Dane County officials are weighing homeless services and public safety in the latest round of budget negotiations with Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett defending his department’s budget.
Barrett insisted his office has already met the county executive’s required 4% reduction and cannot absorb further cuts without risking public safety, while county officials say the agency has yet to demonstrate those reductions.
Dane County entered the 2026 budget cycle facing a $31 million shortfall and a directive from County Executive Melissa Agard for each department to cut 4% in general-purpose revenue (GPR). The sheriff’s office did not present the required reduction at the Oct.27 Finance Committee meeting, and Barrett now says they already absorbed substantial cuts that meet the mandate and cannot sustain further reductions…