MADISON (WKOW) Dane County Executive Melissa Agard announced she signed the 2026 Dane County budget, although she has concerns over some fiscal decisions made by the county board. Agard emphasized the need for greater fiscal discipline to ensure long-term financial stability.

“I am grateful for the hard work of county staff and supervisors throughout this process, but we must be honest with ourselves about the fiscal realities we face. Dane County cannot afford to ignore the structural deficit,” Agard said.

The budget totals more than $916 million, with $825.6 million in operating funds and $90.5 million in capital investments. Agard says it includes a property tax rate of $2.48 per $1,000 of equalized value, a 1.29% levy increase, which is about $15 more annually for the average City of

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