MADISON, Wisc. — The City of Madison is facing a $22 million deficit in the operating budget this year but the issues that led to this have been going on for over a decade.
Madison residents will see a question on their ballot asking to increase the levy for funding of city services and staffing.
City officials claim some of the factors leading them to a referendum include inflation, population growth and state limitations.
“The cost to keep those services going costs more than how much we can increase our revenues to pay for that,” David Schmiedicke, the city’s finance director said. “The legislature has placed strict limits on how much the property taxes can increase each year.”
Those limitations date back to 2011 when they were implemented by former Gov. (R) Scott Walker’s administration. Schmiedicke said the city has been in a deficit since.
“Every year the city has done things to close that deficit over the last 14 years,” he said.
Back in 2021 , the city also received federal COVID relief funding that helped services keep going despite a drop in revenue. However, that funding ends this year.