Just weeks into the City of Madison’s effort to confront its financial challenges head-on, residents and local organizations are responding and stepping up to the plate in response.
When the city announced the formation of its Financial Advisory Committee earlier this year, officials expected only a handful of citizens would step forward to serve. Instead, interest surged, with residents from a range of professional backgrounds — finance, legal, engineering, small business, public service — volunteering to provide a citizen’s perspective as the city works through its long-term fiscal challenges.
“The response has been wonderful,” Mayor Fred Perriman said.
Madison residents want to be part of the solution, have so much to offer, and are choosing to get involved.”
More Events-Not Less: Changing the Funding Model
The civic momentum hasn’t been limited to committee service. As the city explores long-term approaches to funding valued local events— including the potential for increased private sponsorship beginning in 2027 (with no changes proposed for calendar year 2026)—there has been interest from local businesses and nonprofits in supporting and sustaining the festivals and traditions that define Madison’s calendar.
People have been asking why taxpayers must foot the bill when sponsors would like to take over the events. What limits the number of events each year is a limitation of funding, all coming from the taxpayer. The city believes that with a change in the funding model, Madison can do what many cities do, resulting in even more events each year. The model isn’t new to Madison. The annual State of the City celebration has been privately sponsor-funded for years.
What is appreciated is the broader community's willingness to extend that approach to other beloved events.
“Changing the source of funding by encouraging private sector and non-profit involvement would give us the opportunity to have more activities in the future,” Mayor Pro Tempore Eric Joyce said.
New Ideas-Proven Private Sector/Public Sector Reforms
City Hall has also seen an uptick in resident-submitted ideas to streamline operations and reduce costs. Through the city manager’s office and the latest edition of the city newsletter, Madison residents have submitted ideas ranging from infrastructure cost-analysis reforms to revenue diversification to suggestions for tightening procurement and contracting practices.
City staff says that they are reviewing the submissions and incorporating ideas into ongoing budget discussions. Council members say that citizen engagement is exactly what they hoped for when the city committed to a financial back-to-basics strategy and a more transparent budget process.
“As we receive budget questions that some citizens have, this process will hopefully give us an opportunity to address them,” Council member Jim Malanowski said.
City staff and the Financial Advisory Committee are hard at work compiling a long-range financial plan, capital plan review, and an updated borrowing strategy among their top priorities.
“The most important measure of success won’t be any single policy recommendation, but the reality that Madison will implement a solid long-range financial plan that protects the future of our city and its finances,” City Manager John Klimm said.
Residents interested in submitting innovative ideas and reforms should contact the city manager’s office at citymanager@madisonga.com.