Madison mayor unveils executive capital budget with over $90M in key projects | Top Stories

MADISON (WKOW) — Street reconstruction projects, parks systems and storm water management were each labeled as priorities in Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway’s proposed 2026 executive capital budget.

Rhodes-Conway announced the budget proposal Tuesday morning near the construction site of the Imagination Center.

The mayor said the Imagination Center serves as a reminder of the importance of the capital improvement plan. 

“We’re here today at the Imagination Center because we know that libraries are critical infrastructure for a thriving community,” Rhodes-Conway said. “Libraries are an investment that pays dividends in countless ways, and perhaps most importantly by inspiring imagination and giving people the tools to achieve their dreams.”

Before going over her priorities, Rhodes-Conway highlighted the challenges Madison faces in the coming years.

“Madison still faces plenty of challenges. We know that Wisconsin communities are still too heavily dependent on property taxes to fund local operations, and we are deeply restricted by state law from pursuing other revenue options,” she said, adding that, “The current federal government has recently eliminated many financial tools that would have made our city more resilient against climate change and helped modernized our infrastructure.”

However, she said Madison remains “financially healthy” and is outpacing the rest of Wisconsin in terms of the economy. 

She said her executive capital budget is $73.5 million lower than what was originally requested by city agencies.

Replacing Fire Station No. 6 with a modern facility, creating a new public health clinic and creating space for Madison College to build a new child care training facility that will increase the number of providers in the city, were items she highlighted. 

The mayor said the following items would be prioritized for 2026:

• $33M for street reconstruction
• $27M for parks systems
• $9M to reduce flooding and improve storm water management
• $3M to improve bikeways
• $1.5M for for safe street Madison projects

The budget also contains $17.5 million for the affordable housing fund to create more housing in the community.

The mayor’s budget will be introduced at Tuesday’s council meeting. It will first be considered by the finance committee and then by the common council.