Nicholas Garton and Danielle DuClos

If the referendum next month passes, one proposal estimates a homeowner with a property value of $457,000 would pay about $3,330 in taxes to the city — a $313 increase from the current year.

If the referendum fails, the other budget proposal estimates the same homeowner would pay around $3,100 — still an $83 increase. Although the city’s overall tax rate would decline, a nearly 8% increase in average home values could lead to higher payments for homeowners.

Without funding from the referendum, Rhodes-Conway also proposes the city add an “infrastructure special charge” of $76 per year to a typical single-family home. The fee would generate about $10 million annually citywide which, paired with cuts and dipping into budget reserves, would help fill the city’s financial deficit next year.

Madison’s well funded k-12 system and city government are seeking substantial 607M+ tax and spending increases via referendum this fall.

Madison taxpayers of long supported far above average K – 12 spending.