Dane County could face $31 million deficit in 2027, with more in the future, controller says

Dane County could face a budget deficit of nearly $32 million in 2027, with very few options to close the gap, according to a memo prepared by Controller Charles Hicklin and obtained by Madison365.

The memo, provided to County Executive Melissa Agard on February 18 and forwarded to County Supervisors, lays out how an increase in expenses and diminishing surpluses could force the county to cut as many as 241 full-time equivalent jobs, almost 10 percent of its workforce.

According to the memo, unexpected revenue increases in 2021 and 2022 have led to surpluses, meaning the county has had money left over at the end of every budget year. Those surpluses have covered annual deficits for several years, but have been rapidly diminishing. For example, the county had $58.9 million left after 2024, which it was able to apply to the 2025 budget. However, at the end of 2025, the county only had $27.1 million left to apply to 2026, a $31 million drop-off. Still, the $27.1 million surplus was able to fill most of the 2026 budget deficit, which also amounted to about $31 million. The adopted 2026 budget also cut all county wages by one percent for one year, and eliminated 31.5 positions, including 20 vacant sheriff’s deputy positions...

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RSK: Something to be said about this and it is not being explained very well.