Press Release

Statement from Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway: 

"I want to thank the Madison Common Council for adopting the 2025 budget and for their support making strategic investments in our City’s future. This was not an ordinary budget year, and it required decision-making by everybody in our community. I appreciate the Council leading public engagement sessions throughout the budget process to help inform voters about the City budget and the funding referendum once it was put on the ballot.

I also want to extend my gratitude to Madison residents for strongly supporting City services with your vote this November. Thank you! There are still challenges ahead but with the breathing room the referendum provides, Madison is in a much better position to continue our work towards building a healthy, equitable, and thriving City for all who call it home.

The 2025 budget keeps investing in what’s working in Madison. This budget supports the growth of our CARES team, which has been so successful that neighboring cities are looking for opportunities to expand the program into their communities. It advances the goal of making The Imagination Center at Reindahl Park a reality; we have wonderful library services in Madison and the Imagination Center will help us ensure all neighborhoods have ready access to those important resources. I’m also pleased that we are continuing to invest in affordable housing at record levels while keeping our city finances strong and our debt at manageable levels. This budget also makes important infrastructure investments to keep us moving safely through the city, like replacing the aging bridges on John Nolen Drive and continuing to invest in traffic safety measures as part of our Vision Zero initiative.

Madison is a growing city with a reputation for being curious, innovative, and welcoming. I’m proud that we are a community that protects our neighbors and stands up for what’s right. And I’m proud that throughout this year and via tonight’s budget vote, our spending choices have reflected those values. My heartfelt appreciation to the Council and the community."