Mayor Rhodes-Conway prioritizes infrastructure, affordable housing in 2026 Executive Capital Budget

City of Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway announced her 2026 Executive Capital Budget and Capital Improvement Plan Tuesday at Reindahl Park, prioritizing investments in infrastructure and affordable housing.

The plan addresses how Madison will meet long-term community needs while also improving operational efficiency with investments toward infrastructure. 

The 2026 Executive Budget is $73.5 million less than what city agencies requested, a decision aimed at reducing general borrowing obligations that often impact what the city can accomplish in capital projects.

“A central goal of this year`s multi-year Capital Improvement Plan is to identify investments that will yield savings in future operating budgets,” Rhodes-Conway said. 

Rhodes-Conway highlighted the importance of libraries as critical infrastructure in her speech, which was delivered at the construction site of the Imagination Center, a partnership project between libraries and parks to build an indoor-outdoor library and community area on Madison’s East Side.

“Libraries are an investment that pays dividends in countless ways, and perhaps most importantly, by inspiring imagination and giving people the tools that they need to achieve their dreams,” Rhodes-Conway said in her speech on Tuesday. 

Even after receiving the highest bond rating from Moody’s Investors Service, which allows the city to borrow at the lowest interest rates possible, Rhodes-Conway said growing cities like Madison still face challenges tied to Wisconsin’s dependency on property taxes to fund local operations...