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May 29, 2024

Your City Budget Questions Answered

City Cast Madison

Your City Budget Questions Answered

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Understanding Madison’s city budget can feel like a real head scratcher. How can the city have a surplus this year, but be talking about a deficit for next year? If the city has had a budget deficit for the past 14 years, why is this the year the Common Council is considering a referendum to increase property taxes? And most of all, how can a city that is undergoing such an economic boom be struggling to balance the books? Host Bianca Martin took all those questions and more to the man behind the city’s money, Madison’s Finance Director Dave Schmiedicke. 

You can listen to City Cast Madison’s conversation from last week with Madison Common Council President Yannette Figueroa Cole about the budget.

Make your voice heard at one of the City Budget Engagement Events

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