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Dane County Executive Melissa Agard Releases 2026 Executive Budget

October 01, 2025
execmedia@danecounty.gov, 608-800-1127
County Executive

DANE COUNTY – Dane County Executive Melissa Agard today introduced her 2026 Executive Budget, a plan that closes a $31 million structural deficit while maintaining high-quality services for residents without any layoffs. Note: County Executive Agard is available for one-on-one interviews regarding the budget. Please reach out to execmedia@danecounty.gov to set up a time.

 

“When I took office, I was briefed on the daunting budget challenges ahead: a $31 million structural deficit driven by rising costs and flat or declining revenues,” said County Executive Agard. “Dane County residents elected me to make hard decisions, and this budget makes them. However, we are still preserving vital services, protecting jobs, and investing in our future.”

 

The 2026 budget totals $903.6 million, a 3% decrease from last year. It includes an operating budget of $825.1 million and a capital budget of $78.5 million, down 30% from 2025. The budget lowers Dane County’s property tax rate to $2.48 per $1,000 of equalized value, while the average Madison homeowner will see a levy increase of $15.23 - the lowest percentage increase since 2019.

 

Between 2019 and 2025, the total County budget (operating and capital) has gone from $630 million in 2019 to $926 million in 2025, a 47.02% increase.

 

“Simply put, Dane County was on an unsustainable trajectory which requires a measured and pragmatic response,” Agard stated. “This budget puts us on a more responsible financial path forward.”

 

Addressing the Deficit

 

To close the $31 million gap, Agard’s budget combines cost reductions with targeted revenue increases:

 

  • Departmental Savings: At the direction of the County Executive, department heads identified 4% GPR base reductions to their budgets earlier this year, resulting in nearly $14 million in savings.
  • Personnel and Other Savings: Debt service reductions and additional savings from a hiring freeze, voluntary unpaid leave, and an early retirement incentive program. No layoffs of county employees; instead, eliminated over 50 vacant positions and a temporary 1% wage reduction is implemented in 2026.
  • Revenue Generation:  Additional revenue was pursued by multiple departments including a $4.2 million increase in revenue for Badger Prairie operations.

 

“These actions aren’t easy, but they are necessary to restore fiscal balance. We closed this gap without a single layoff because keeping our workforce intact means keeping services intact,” Agard said.

 

Continued Community Investments

 

Despite reductions, the 2026 budget makes significant investments across Dane County:

 

  • Housing & Homeless Services: More than $2.4 million for shelter services, including support for the new men’s shelter, the Salvation Army, and the YWCA; plus $10 million for the Affordable Housing Fund.
  • Public Safety & Justice Reform: Launch of Dane County’s first community court, expansion of the Assessment, Treatment, Transition and Aftercare (ATTA) program to keep youth closer to home, and continued support for the Community Justice Council’s system reform efforts.
  • Public Health & Social Services: Over $65 million in health and social service programs reaching more than 65,000 residents; new opioid settlement investments, including a countywide coordinator and funding for UW Hospital’s Compass program.
  • Parks & Conservation: $10 million for the Dane County Conservation Fund and new park investments, continuing to grow and preserve one of the state’s premier parks systems. $340,000 allocated for the next phase of the North Mendota Trail, extending the trail from the North Mendota Wildlife Area through Holy Wisdom property and private lands into Madison, with funding to prepare construction documents once the corridor is secured.
  • Infrastructure & Transportation: $16.3 million for road and bridge improvements across the county; investments in rural EMS capacity; continued upgrades at the Alliant Energy Center and Dane County Regional Airport.

 

“Even in a tight year, we are keeping our promise to invest in what makes Dane County strong - housing, public safety, parks, and infrastructure,” Agard said. “This budget is about making the tough choices today so that tomorrow we are stronger, more resilient, and better prepared for the growth ahead.”

 

Agard’s budget will now be reviewed by the Dane County Board of Supervisors, with final adoption expected later this fall.