Madison Voters Approve $629 Million in Referendums

MADISON, Wis. (WMDX) — Madison residents approved three referendums Tuesday.

The city asked for $22 million from taxpayers to fill a budget gap. Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway had instructed city staff to create plans for 5% cuts across the board. Those cuts could’ve included eliminating evening and weekend hours for public libraries, and closing Goodman Pool. 

That referendum is expected to cost taxpayers with average property value of about $457,000 an additional $230 on their tax bill next year. 

The Madison Metropolitan School District had two referendums on the ballot, including the largest in the state Tuesday. 

One was an operating referendum. That means it will fund paying staff and expenses without adding any new programs, employees, or facilities. Voters approved $100 million. 

The other was for $507 million. That’s a capital referendum, so it would pay for improvement projects, new schools, and renovations. 

Both school district referendums will cost $40 in the first year, for properties of average value. By year four, they’ll cost the taxpayer more than $1,300.