Dane County Board Budget Process

Shamelessly stolen from Dane County Board Supervisor Heidi Wegleitner’s email to neighborhoods she represents.  I haven’t seen this detail of summary any where else.

Keep in mind the following rules related to public participation in the budget process:

• • Posting of Amendments. Budget amendments that have been drafted and provided to committee staff prior to the posting of the committee agenda will be included in a packet of amendments as an attachment to the operating or capital budget resolution. The committee may, pursuant to a suspension of the rules, consider budget amendments drafted after the agenda has posted. The sponsor of the amendment that has not been included in the amendment packet attached to the posted agenda shall bring copies of the amendment to the committee meeting for distribution to committee members and the public prior to any action on the amendment. Dane Co. Ords. § 7.24(3)

  • Limiting Testimony.

    • The Chairperson of the Committee is allowed to reduce the time for public comment from 5 minutes to 3 minutes to “ensure public comment is received from all those interested in testifying and the committee has sufficient time to conduct all scheduled business”.  This does not include time answering questions from committee members. Dane Co. Ords. § 7.225(2)

    •  If a committee has taken testimony on an item and the same committee considers action on the item at a separate meeting, the public shall not have the opportunity to testify if that same item appears on subsequent agendas of the same committee. Items are not considered to be the same item if a new amendment has been posted and the public has not had the opportunity to testify on the new amendment.   Dane Co. Ords. § 7.225(2)(a).

  • Comment on Items Not on the Agenda. County committees (unlike the County Board) allow for public comment on items not on the agenda.  Dane Co. Ords. § 7.225(1)..

I have linked to the agendas for standing committee meetings on the budget this week. I did not see any amendments posted yet.   Most committees meet in the City-County Building (CCB), but the Environment, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee meets at 5201 Fen Oak. It appears that Public Works and Transportation will meet at CCB on 10/16/19 for the budget and at Alliant Energy Center (1919 Alliant Energy Center Way) on 10/22/19.  Check the meeting location and agenda which should be posted the Friday prior to the meeting at https://dane.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

Monday 10/7/19

• • Zoning and Land Regulation  The budget is last on the agenda and no amendments are posted.

Thursday 10/10/19

• • Personnel & Finance Committee  Joint meeting with City of Madison Finance Committee to consider the Public Health 2020 Budget
  • Executive Committee No amendments posted yet.
  •  Environment and Natural Resources Committee Budget presentation from Director Hicklin.  No amendments posted yet.
  • Health and Human Needs Committee Budget presentation on Executive Budget.  No amendments to be considered until 10/22/19.

Wednesday 10/16/19

• • Public Protection and Judiciary Committee
  • Public Works and Transportation Committee
  • Dane County Board Public Hearing at 7:00

Monday 10/21/19

• • Public Protection and Judiciary Committee

Tuesday 10/22/19

• • Health and Human Needs Committee
  • Public Protection and Judiciary Committee
  • Public Works and Transportation

Thursday 10/24/19

• • Health and Human Needs Committee

10/29/19 – 10/30/19

• • Personnel and Finance Committee considers recommendations from Standing Committees on their areas of oversight and budget review.

11/5/19-11/6/19

• • Personnel and Finance Committee votes on amendments and makes final recommendation to County Board.

11/11/19 (and 11/13 and 11/14/19 if needed)

• • County Board action on the budget.

As always, I’m very interested in your thoughts on the budget process and your county budget priorities. With all the pages, acronyms, and funding sources, the County Budget is detailed, complicated, and opaque.. In my tenure, I’ve tried (with mixed success) to increase public comment opportunities, transparency with proposed amendments, and video-recording meetings. Please let me know if you have questions, concerns, and/or comments. I’m committed to helping you participate in the budget process.

Thanks,

Heidi

—