The County Board deliberated the budget on Nov. 4 following weeks of public testimony and committee review. The adopted plan projects about $861 million in operating funds and $94 million in capital spending, slightly more than Agard had proposed. The property tax levy is set at $283.2 million, roughly $12 million above this year's levy, while the tax rate drops by about 5 cents per $1,000 of property value. Owners of an average-value home in Madison will likely pay about $5 more toward county taxes.

Housing and homelessness services received a significant boost. The capital budget includes nearly $30 million for housing and shelter, and more than $26 million is allocated to county programs that help house people with lower incomes, criminal records or experience with homelessness. Supervisors also approved $750,000 for land improvements for a potential campground where people experiencing homelessness could legally sleep, $2.1 million toward the Salvation Army family shelter and additional funding for a winter overflow shelter.

Supervisors also signed off on several fee changes. Jury duty pay will rise from $20 to $30 per day effective Jan. 1. The Medical Examiner's cremation fee will increase from $365 to $374. Parking at the Alliant Energy Center will cost $5 more at the gate but remain $10 when purchased in advance, and landfill trash drop-off fees will rise slightly.

The debate over spending priorities surfaced in a dispute over the Madison Reading Project, a nonprofit that provides free books to schools and has been expanding across the county. Board member Yogesh Chawla initially proposed cutting $55,000 in funding, prompting other supervisors to author a floor amendment restoring it. A compromise to fund the program at half the original proposed amount was approved.

Board member Kierstin Huelsemann, who represents parts of Fitchburg, questioned where the line should be drawn between "feel-good" programs and life-saving initiatives such as unfilled public safety jobs.

"Literacy helps end poverty, but so does stable housing, addiction care, getting parents and children themselves out of additional cycles, which lead to poverty," Huelsemann said. She added that "there's more and more funding for these kinds of things and less and less for things like helping mental health, for detox and all other sorts of other services."

Chawla, who represents the east Madison area including Williamson Street, pushed for a permanent memorial for victims of police violence. A proposal to amend the 2026 budget with $25,000 for the memorial was postponed indefinitely, but the money was included in the 2027 capital budget. Dane Arts will coordinate the memorial's design, creation, artist stipends and installation.

Public safety staffing drew extended discussion. Dane County Director of Administration Shelby Slaven said the Sheriff's Office had 30 hires and 34 separations this year. Sheriff Kalvin Barrett and Deputy Chief Chris Nygaard explained that 20 vacant positions frozen last year will reopen in 2027, while hiring for about 13 positions remains uncertain. They warned that the office is accumulating significant overtime costs as deputies work long hours, framing the choice as paying time-and-a-half versus hiring new staff.

Supervisors from rural districts stressed the importance of funding the Sheriff's Office. Late last month, a man armed with a gun robbed the Bank of Deerfield shortly before closing, restraining two employees and forcing them to hand over money. No injuries were reported, and Cambridge-Deerfield Police are still searching for the suspect.

Kerry Marren, who represents the Deerfield area, cited the robbery and urged colleagues to prioritize law enforcement positions that fill gaps in smaller communities.

"The Sheriff's Office does so much more than respond to emergencies," Marren said. "They've helped educate our seniors about fraud and scams, and just as importantly, they've given them a familiar, trusted person to contact." She added that supporting the office "is about more than funding positions. It's about making sure that people in small communities will feel supported, safe and protected."

The capital budget also includes $3 million for body-worn cameras, with supervisors recommending that the Sheriff's Office develop a communications plan to inform the public about their rights and the technology's use, and hold hearings centered on community voices. Supervisors suggested using the Public Protection and Judiciary Committee for at least a month of public comment before the policy is finalized.

The budget invests $10 million in the Dane County Conservation Fund for highway and bridge construction, land and water resources, park improvements and upgrades at the Henry Vilas Zoo.

Board Chair Patrick Miles said the budget reflects months of work examining "what this community needs most right now." He warned that state aid has not kept pace with the cost of required services and that federal grants to local governments and nonprofits are shrinking.

"We will keep making these choices locally. But the strain on this community's safety net is not something Dane County created, and it is not something we can solve by ourselves," Miles said.

Board member Jerry Bollig, who represents Oregon, objected to shifting funds from the Sheriff's Department to other departments, calling it "a divisive tactic that is unnecessary" and arguing that human services should find savings within its own budget, which makes up 40% of total operating spending.

Board member Keith Furman, who chairs the Public Protection and Judiciary Committee, said future budget cycles will be difficult because of a structural deficit and the challenge of choosing between wants and needs.

"There are just way too many needs in our community that we're required to address that hit people hard," Furman said. "We need to be smart as we continue to try and get a hold of this budget."

Agard said officials are working on a five-year capital plan to ensure responsible budgeting and give the public a clear picture of long-term costs.