Madison’s proposed 2027 operating budget would increase by 5.5% from 2026, but Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway told The Daily Cardinal state-imposed restrictions on local revenue and expenditures will continue to limit the city’s ability to fund services and address long-term budget pressures.
The proposed budget requests $477.5 million, up from $452.5 million in 2026. The operating budget covers day-to-day services, salaries and department operations.
Over the past five years, Rhodes-Conway said she has built a healthy fund balance, an unassigned pool of money that is typically spent on property tax increases and unexpected expenses. The fund is grown through the city making more revenue than is spent in the fiscal year…