By Oona Mackesey-Green
Northside Planning Council

The annual budget processes for both the City of Madison and Dane County began this fall. These include allocating money for both their capital budgets and operating budgets. Capital budgets fund expenses like construction projects, infrastructure and equipment. Operating budgets fund day-to-day spending to run departments and services, including staffing and supplies. 

Anyone can join online city and county public budget hearings to listen or make public comment. You can also contact your elected officials to ask them about the budget and share what you would like to see prioritized in public spending.

The People’s Budget from Freedom, Inc.

Freedom, Inc. is building a 2021 People’s Budget with calls for elected officials to invest in the people with their budget decisions this fall. Complete their budget survey to help identify spending priorities for The People’s Budget at bit.ly/madisonpb. For updates about upcoming meetings and budget priorities, follow Freedom, Inc. at facebook.com/aboutfreedominc. 

City of Madison 2021 budget

Visit cityofmadison.com/finance/budget
 to see timelines and plans for both the capital and operating budgets. While hearings about the capital budget took place throughout September, hearings on the operating budget are expected to take place in October. The council will vote to adopt both budgets Nov. 10-12. 

The elected officials involved in this process include Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway (mayor@cityofmadison.com, 266-4611) and the Common Council (contact
allalders@cityofmadison.com or find your alder at cityofmadison.com/Council).

Dane County 2021 budget

Find current and previous Dane County budget documents at admin.countyofdane.com/finance/budget. A calendar of upcoming Dane County meetings, including links to agendas and online meeting information (available the day before the meeting), is online at dane.legistar.com/calendar. 

A public hearing on the 2021 budget is currently scheduled for 7 pm, Oct. 21, with final budget deliberations taking place Nov. 9, 11 and 12.