Dane County Board Chair: Tight 2027 Budget Makes Public Input More Important Than Ever

September 02, 2026
CountyBoardPress@danecounty.gov, (608) 228-9053
County Board

Budget process to kick off with department budget request hearings next week

DANE COUNTY, Wis. — The Dane County Board of Supervisors kicks off the final two months of the 2027 budget process with the first of three departmental budget request public hearings on September 9. Following the departmental budget request hearings, the process includes sixteen standing committee budget meetings, two additional public hearings, and final adoption in early November. 

County Board Chair Patrick Miles is urging public participation throughout the process.

“The county budget is not simply dollars and cents on a page. They are the human services programs that support children, families, and older adults through some of their most difficult moments. They are the parks, trails, and conservation work that protect our lakes and land for generations to come. And they are the emergency response and law enforcement that residents depend on around the clock. The budget also funds the assets that drive our local economy, from the Dane County Regional Airport to the Alliant Energy Center, and to the Henry Vilas Zoo.

 “Maintaining that level of service in a constrained budget year requires difficult decisions. The board wants those decisions informed by the people they affect. I encourage residents across Dane County to attend a public hearing or standing committee meeting, submit testimony in person or virtually, or contact their supervisor directly. Public participation makes this process, and the budget it produces, stronger.”

The full 2027 county budget review schedule is attached. To learn more about the county budget and how to participate in the formation and review process, visit: https://board.danecounty.gov/budget

For the most up-to-date meeting information and access to agendas, visit the Dane County Legislative Information Center: https://dane.legistar.com/calendar. Instructions for registering to attend virtually and provide public testimony are available in posted meeting agendas.

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