Proposed Dane County budget cuts spending as pandemic aid dries up

Interim Dane County Executive Jamie Kuhn unveiled her 2025 county budget proposal on Sept.18 totaling $903 million, a nearly 7% decrease from 2024. 

The Dane County budget differs from the Madison city budget, which faces a $22 million deficit for 2025. While the city is asking residents to vote to pass a referendum to raise property taxes in hopes of closing the budget gap, Dane County is planning on spending less than it did last year. The decrease in spending comes as pandemic-era federal aid is set to expire. 

Kuhn’s budget proposal includes an $813 million operating budget, over $23 million less than last year. The proposed capital plan is $90 million, a 49.54% decrease from the $179 million approved in 2024. 

The proposed tax rate is $2.57 per $1,000 of equalized value, the lowest it has been since 2010. 

The budget proposal focuses on Dane County families and includes additional funds to the Dane County Joining Forces for Families to “increase capacity to provide housing connections in the northwest region of Dane County,” according to a Sept.18 press release. 

The proposal also includes additional staff support in the Dane County Veterans Service Office and funding to establish a new Dementia Care Unit in Adult Protective Services.

“As we see changes in the economy, our goal in this budget is to prioritize community needs by identifying and funding gaps in services and ensuring we are being good stewards of taxpayer dollars,” Kuhn said in a statement. 

Highlights of Kuhn’s 2025 budget proposal include: 

• $10 million to the Affordable Housing Fund
• $10 million to the Dane County Conservation Fund
• $16.6 million invested in highway projects
• Maintaining core services across departments
• Funding to improve the Alliant Energy Center

The 2025 budget proposal will move to the County Board of Supervisors for consideration. The finalized budget is scheduled to be released in late October, according to the press release. 

The County Board plans to hold public hearings Oct. 9.

The Dane County Executive election, on Nov. 5, between Sen. Melissa Agard, D-Madison and former District 13 Dane County Supervisor Dana Pellebon will determine the next county executive. The winner of the election will have the power to approve or veto the budgets once in office.

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