Alder Marsha Rummel of District 6 Invites Residents to District 6: Budget Outlook for 2025

The City of Madison is faced with an unprecedented operating budget gap of $22M due to population growth, the lingering economic disruption from COVID, and state levy limit constraints, which have made it difficult for the City to cover the increasing costs of providing services because revenues have not kept up with inflation and growth.

Alder Marsha Rummel of District 6 invites residents to District 6: Budget Outlook for 2025, a virtual event to discuss the 2025 budget outlook. Residents can expect to learn about impacts for District 6, Downtown, and near Eastside regions of Madison. This event will include a presentation with key information about the 2025 City Budget, followed by a question-and-answer session. She asks you to consider how City services affect your quality of life and how your quality of life might erode if we have to impose deep cuts and remove programs that make Madison a livable and humane city.

The presentation will include an overview of the 2025 Capital and Operating Budgets. This overview will define and explain the difference between the City's two budgets. Attendees will learn more about the Council's guidance on the 2025 Budget that highlights City values and priorities. The presentation will break down the current situation regarding the structural deficit, explain how we got here, and what the City has done so far. Finally, attendees will learn about two proposals for the 2025 Budget, which include the Executive Budget with a Referendum and an Alternate Budget without a Referendum. Alder Rummel will address possible long-term solutions in each case and discuss potential service cuts in future years.

Alder Rummel believes that "budgets are value documents." Her goal is to effectively serve historically marginalized populations and address systemic racial and economic disparities, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide wage parity for municipal workers, add more affordable housing units, provide services for individuals experiencing homelessness, improve pedestrian and bike safety, and improve public safety and neighborhood stability. Alder Rummel says, "I love supporting our parks, libraries, public art, and active engaged neighborhoods." She invites you to talk about shared values as the community figures out how to move forward.

This event will take place on Thursday, October 17, 2024, at 6:30 pm virtually via Zoom. You can join the virtual meeting using your computer, smartphone, or tablet or listen in via telephone. Advanced registration is required. You will receive login information after registering using this link www.cityofmadison.com/District6Budget.

For more information, please contact Alder Marsha Rummel by email [email protected]. For help registering, please contact Lorissa Banuelos by email at [email protected]. Residents can also contact the Common Council Office, by email [email protected], or by phone (608) 266-4071.

###

About the Madison Common Council

The Common Council's mission is to represent the residents of Madison by promoting the safety, health, and general well-being of the community, by incorporating the following city core values: Equity, Civic Engagement, Well-Being, Shared Prosperity, and Stewardship. For additional information about the Madison Common Council, please visit: www.cityofmadison.com/council.