Mayor Rhodes-Conway to Propose 2027 Madison Budget

The proposed $477.5 million spending plan includes a 3.4% increase to the city property tax levy.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in City Hall

Isometric editorial illustration featuring stylized architectural models of a library and fire station representing municipal budget allocations. — Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway introduced a $477.5 million budget proposal for 2027, including a 3.4% property tax increase. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway has introduced a $477.5 million budget proposal for the 2027 fiscal year. The plan features a $11.2 million increase in the property tax levy to help address municipal service needs.

Why it matters

The proposal aims to limit property tax growth to the rate of inflation while continuing to fund essential services like public safety and transit. It also addresses lingering transit funding challenges as ridership figures evolve.

The proposed 2027 general and library budget is $477.5 million, marking a 5.5% increase over the previous year. This plan includes a $337.9 million total property tax levy and a $25.5 million transfer from the general fund to support transit operations.

The players

Satya Rhodes-Conway

The Mayor of Madison who is responsible for drafting and submitting the annual municipal budget proposal to the city council.

Madison Common Council

The legislative body for the City of Madison tasked with reviewing and ultimately voting on the mayor's proposed financial plans.

Madison Community Foundation

A philanthropic organization that provides grant funding to local initiatives, including a recent contribution toward public safety technology.

The details

The budget proposal allocates increased funding for police and fire departments to cover cost-of-living pay raises while providing for a new ambulance company and a new library. The city is also leveraging a $350,000 grant from the Madison Community Foundation to support the implementation of police body cameras.

September 2025 to August 2026 was the period during which monthly transit ridership averaged over 1 million.
2027 is the fiscal year for the mayor's proposed budget.
In the coming weeks, the Common Council will review the budget proposal.

Political Context

This budget proposal must navigate the Wisconsin property tax levy limit statutes which dictate how much municipalities can collect from local taxpayers. Critics often argue these constraints limit the ability of city halls to respond to rising operational costs and inflation.

Residents should anticipate a 3.4% increase in the city property tax levy as the city works to fund rising costs for emergency services and transit. The outcome of the council review may ultimately dictate the final tax impact on individual household budgets.

The takeaway

Maintaining transit services and public safety remains a priority despite projected revenue shortfalls that remain 16.2% below 2019 levels. Citizens are encouraged to participate in upcoming public hearings to learn how the final budget will shape city services for the next year.