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COVID Locking Down Dane County's Budget
Dane County’s county executive is promising to have a budget by the end of the month, but she will be hemmed-in by decisions made during COVID.
Dane County Executive Melissa Agard said she is working on a budget proposal for next year, but she acknowledged last month that it will be a budget full of difficult decisions.
“We made hard decisions during the last budget cycle, and we are already delivering results to the people of Dane County,” Agard said in a statement. “I am committed to ensuring that Dane County lives within our means and is honest about the challenges that are before us. Working together, we can protect vital services and programs that people depend on and avoid more difficult choices down the road.”
One of the major challenges that Dane County is facing is the impact of millions of dollars in COVID spending.
The Cap Times on Wednesday published a report that shows Dane County spent almost $112 million from its reserves between 2022 and 2024.
Most of that money went to either new programs or new hires.
“Over those three years, they added 233 positions and gave workers annual median wage increases of 6%, 9% and 4%. The new positions and pay raises ballooned overall spending,” the Cap Times wrote.
Agard is not saying what “hard decisions” will need to be made in next year's budget, but she will have to address a budget deficit of at least $15 million.
Dane County’s total budget is nearly $1 billion, and there are about 2,800 people who work for the county. As with almost every government operation, about half of Dane County’s budget goes to paychecks, benefits, and pensions.
Agard did cut more than 30 jobs within Dane County, but all of those positions were vacant, so the savings were muted.
Once Agared delivers a new county budget this month, county board members will then hold hearings and offer their input. The county will adopt its 2027 budget some time in the fall.
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