Voters pass Madison's $22M referendum to avoid service cuts

City leaders are closer to maintaining the services and programs that many Madison residents rely on — including trash and recycling pick-up, libraries, busing and mental health services — after voters approved a $22 million referendum Nov. 5.

With 100% of precincts reporting unofficial results, the property tax hike backed by Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway passed with about 57% of voters in favor. City officials estimate the hike will cost the average Madison homeowner $230 annually.

If voters rejected the referendum, Rhodes-Conway had proposed cutting $5.6 million for city services to help fill an anticipated $22 million budget hole next year. She also proposed hiking fees by $10 million and tapping one-time budget reserves.

Now, with additional funding from property taxes, city leaders could avoid making cuts entirely — though Rhodes-Conway has urged making at least 1% reductions to city agency budgets to avoid fee hikes and maintain budget reserves.



https://captimes.com/news/voters-pass-madison-s-22m-referendum-to-avoid-service-cuts/article_9680ef8b-36fa-5df2-a281-7fc0d60dad68.html