Recently, I released my 2027 Executive Capital Budget and five-year Capital Improvement Plan. This plan outlines infrastructure investments that uplift our entire community and are essential for a thriving city. The funding in this proposal provides residents with housing and transportation options so they can decide what works best for their families. It underpins our local economy and attracts innovative employers and businesses. It also furthers our goals to build a more resilient city. And by investing wisely in our facilities, it allows city staff to more efficiently provide critical services that we all depend on.
Due to cutbacks in funding from state and federal governments, the burden of maintaining critical infrastructure is falling too heavily on local property taxpayers. When coupled with high inflation, local governments simply cannot keep up. Just as our residents are experiencing, the high costs of construction materials are also hitting the City’s bottom line. There is nothing controversial or political about effective stormwater infrastructure, roads free of potholes, or adequate facilities to provide emergency services. In fact, deferring these investments comes with real costs to our quality of life, our economy, and our health.
The entirety of my Executive Capital Budget proposal is available now. Highlights include:
● Continuing investment in affordable housing
● Maximizing efficiencies in City operations
● Purchasing equipment needed to launch a body-worn camera program for the Madison Police Department
● Maintaining core infrastructure
There will be multiple opportunities to weigh in on the Executive Capital Budget, as well as my soon-to-be-released 2027 Executive Operating Budget, which focuses on services, staffing, and programs. I encourage you to engage with my office and your Alder as we move forward with the 2027 budget process.
