If approved by city leaders, most agencies would receive increases of 1% to 8% from previous spending levels. One exception would be a 30% budget increase requested by the City Clerk’s Office.
The office is restructuring this year after the resignation of longtime City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl. City Attorney Michael Haas, who is serving as interim clerk, is asking for a $791,000 budget increase to help with next year’s expected workloads.
Moving forward, Madison plans to hold City Council elections at least once every year after adopting staggered terms for alders. More funding is also needed for voter engagement in historically underrepresented wards and for responding to requests for city records, Haas said.
The clerk’s office’s annual budget would grow to $3.4 million.
Larger city agencies, such as the police and fire departments, are seeking smaller increases as a ratio of previous funding levels. But these requests would draw more in total from the city’s general fund, which pays for many day-to-day expenses like salaries and services.
Both the Police Department and Fire Department are requesting 2% increases in funding next year. The police budget would grow by $1.9 million to nearly $100 million. The fire budget would increase by $1.5 million to $77 million.
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Madison taxpayers have long supported far above average (now > $25,000 per student) K-12 tax & spending practices. This, despite long term, disastrous reading results.
Madison Schools: More $, No Accountability
The taxpayer funded Madison School District long used Reading Recovery…
The data clearly indicate that being able to read is not a requirement for graduation at (Madison) East, especially if you are black or Hispanic”
My Question to Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers on Teacher Mulligans and our Disastrous Reading Results
2017: West High Reading Interventionist Teacher’s Remarks to the School Board on Madison’s Disastrous Reading Results
Madison’s taxpayer supported K-12 school district, despite spending far more than most, has long tolerated disastrous reading results.
“An emphasis on adult employment”
Wisconsin Public Policy Forum Madison School District Report[PDF]
WEAC: $1.57 million for Four Wisconsin Senators
Friday Afternoon Veto: Governor Evers Rejects AB446/SB454; an effort to address our long term, disastrous reading results
Booked, but can’t read (Madison): functional literacy, National citizenship and the new face of Dred Scott in the age of mass incarceration.
When A Stands for Average: Students at the UW-Madison School of Education Receive Sky-High Grades. How Smart is That?