Madison school board adopts budget and certifies tax levy
The 2026–2027 plan sets $918,976,480 in spending, while members say the average city home’s tax bill will rise less than last year.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — board adopts 2026–2027 budget and certifies, commission approves paratransit fare increase, defers, and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
District finance staff said ongoing revenue covers ongoing costs, without using reserves or one-time money to pay recurring bills.
The school district set its spending plan for another year. The Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education unanimously adopted its 2026–2027 budget at its October 26, 2026 meeting, approving $910,888,842 in revenue and $918,976,480 in expenditures. The Board of Education also certified a $512,286,482 tax levy. Members said the average city home’s tax bill would rise, but by less than the prior year’s average increase.
Board of Education members pointed to a cost-of-living increase for staff, investments in math curriculum and accessibility work. They discussed school safety staffing that can be deployed where needed, continued expansion of full-day 4K and funding to put an existing parental leave policy into effect. Members raised questions about staffing as school boundaries change and about support for students affected by trauma.
When a Board of Education member asked whether the budget was balanced, district finance staff said ongoing revenue matched ongoing expenses. Staff said the district was not relying on one-time dollars or its fund balance for recurring costs. They also described expected state special education reimbursements as a budget assumption and said the district would track revenue and spending throughout the year. Members raised the need to keep examining special education staffing and asked whether steps addressing seclusion and restraint were funded.
Commission approves paratransit fare increase, defers other transit rate changes
A paratransit ride costs Metro Transit more than the agency fare brings in. Metro Transit staff told the Transportation Commission that human service organizations currently pay $34.25 per one-way trip, while payments to vendors average $55. The commission approved an increase to the agency fare, which applies to organizations using state or federal funds to provide clients with paratransit service.
The Transportation Commission postponed decisions on two other proposed increases until November 18. Staff proposed raising the commute card rate for smaller businesses from $1.40 to $1.50 per ride and setting the unlimited ride pass contract rate at $1.50 per ride. Both proposals included annual increases tied to costs. Public commenters raised concerns about how the changes would affect university transit programs and their budget timelines.
Metro Transit staff said a fare equity analysis of the proposed changes found no disparate impacts or disproportionate burdens under federal thresholds for fixed-route fares. Staff could not conduct the same analysis for paratransit because they lacked enough demographic data: a 2024 onboard survey collected 11 paratransit responses. A broader review of fares remains ahead as Metro Transit updates its fare system.
Parents press Board of Education on school staffing
Two parents told the Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education that staffing gaps and classroom changes at their elementary school were affecting student support. They described concerns about special education services, seclusion and restraint practices, and whether families were receiving clear information from school leadership.
The parents asked for clearer communication and staffing information as classroom changes and student-support concerns continue.
Board of Education approves playground equipment purchase
The Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education unanimously approved $925,259 for playground equipment, shade structures and poured-in-place rubber safety surfacing from Gerber Leisure Products Inc. The purchase and installation will be paid for with bond proceeds from the 2024 referendum.
The work will improve outdoor spaces used by students during school and available to the community outside school hours.
Transportation Commission reviews narrower road intersection
The Transportation Commission reviewed a road reconstruction concept that would narrow an intersection and shorten pedestrian crossings by nearly 24 feet. Commissioners asked about traffic queues, event access, railroad crossings, turn lanes and bicycle markings; the concept also includes a new sidewalk connection.
Shorter crossings would help people walking, while the proposed lane changes could lengthen morning traffic queues.
Families ask Board of Education for coach pay
Parents, a staff colleague and a former coach urged the Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education to raise Science Olympiad coach pay and fund another assistant coaching position. Speakers cited the program’s enrollment, coaches’ hours and responsibilities that extend beyond competitions.
Families said the current staffing and pay do not reflect the time required to run the program.
- Transportation Commission (City of Madison). Two public registrants spoke in favor of reinstating a taxi fuel surcharge charge option, citing high fuel and insurance costs and thin margins. Staff described the prior fuel surcharge charge framework and sunset provisions. The commission voted unanimously to recommend approval to the Common Council.
- Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education. Two parents raised concerns about staffing deficits and data transparency at Erlinger Elementary, including use of internal positions to cover gaps, classroom combining, and reports of seclusion/restraint practices and communication issues with school leadership.
- Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education. Multiple speakers (parents, a staff colleague, and a former coach/educator) urged the board to increase Science Olympiad coach compensation to the varsity head coach rate and to fund additional assistant coach lines, citing program size, hours, and competitive success.
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
MADISON had 22 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCE2027 Capital and Operating Budgets: Department of Transportation, Parking, and Metro Transit Highlights and Q&A. Staff provided brief highlights of 2027 capital and operating budgets for Traffic Engineering/Transportation, Parking, and Metro Transit. Commissioners asked about a Vision Zero outreach/education amendment, new engineering positions tied to BRT, parking budget changes, and Metro’s capital program flexibility and operating cost drivers.
- GOVERNANCEWritten Public Input (4 submissions). The board reported four written statements submitted: two opposing approval of the 2026–2027 budget due to a 5% increase for average non-union professionals, and two supporting items related to Science Olympiad coach compensation and classroom staff support at an elementary school.
- GOVERNANCEFuel Surcharge Charge Option for Taxi Cabs (Public Comment and Commission Action). Two public registrants spoke in favor of reinstating a taxi fuel surcharge charge option, citing high fuel and insurance costs and thin margins. Staff described the prior fuel surcharge charge framework and sunset provisions. The commission voted unanimously to recommend approval to the Common Council.
- GOVERNANCEFuture Agenda Items and Scheduling Notes. The chair reviewed upcoming and potential future agenda items, including Odana Road transportation improvements, Odana Hills golf course redesign, Metro Transit contract rate increases deferred to November 18, and other project updates.
- GOVERNANCEApproval of Amended Expenditure: Follett Software LLC Library Software Licenses. The board approved an amended expenditure of 6,150 to Follett Software LLC to renew software licenses for the 2026–2027 school year for library services using Common School Funds; the vote passed unanimously.
- GOVERNANCESuperintendent Announcements: Hispanic Heritage Month, Groundbreakings, Community Partnership Highlight, and Brewers Day. Superintendent Dr. Gothard reported on Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations, shared a video, highlighted groundbreakings for new middle schools, noted a community development partnership involving an MMSD alum, and announced “Milwaukee Brewers Day” for students and staff.
- GOVERNANCENews Around the District: Awards, Recognition, Assessment Results, School Rankings, and Donations. The superintendent shared district highlights including Northstar Awards recipients, recognition of an assistant principal, Forward Exam improvements, US News school rankings, and acknowledgment of donations to school programs and endowment funds.
- GOVERNANCEOperations Work Group Report (Meeting Held October 19, 2026). The Operations Work Group reported on human resources, healthcare, staffing review, referendum sustainability and facilities planning, and budget planning; upcoming topics included attendance boundary review, food services, and beginning the 2027–2028 budget process.
- GOVERNANCEStudent Senate Report. The student senate reported meeting twice in October to learn board meeting operations and public comment, continue parliamentary procedure learning, and begin planning committee work focused on inclusive school climate and student mental health and well-being.
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