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Friday, November 13, 2026

Dane County signs its 2027 budget as UW-Madison's chancellor search nears the finish

Plus, the third UW-Madison chancellor finalist presents Friday afternoon at the Memorial Union.

The 608today team2 stories23 sources5 min read

Dane CountyTop story

Agard signs Dane County's 2027 budget, with $29.35 million for housing and shelter

Dane County's 2027 budget puts $29.35 million toward housing and shelter

$861,125,920
in operating expenditures
$94,132,450
in capital spending
$283.2 million
property tax levy set by supervisors
$29.35 million
in the capital budget for housing and shelter

Sources: WMTV 15 NEWS, Channel 3000

Dane County's 2027 budget, titled "Turning the Corner," is now law. County Executive Melissa Agard signed it Thursday, after the County Board approved it Nov. 4.

Housing and shelter is the county's largest area of investment, and supervisors added $7.25 million of it through their amendments. Agard said it will take more than that to support people without homes. She said the county can't do it alone: "we certainly would appreciate partnerships with municipalities across Dane County."

Most of Dane County's housing money goes to its Affordable Housing Development fund

Source: Channel 3000

View as table
Value
Affordable Housing Development fund$20 million
Fair Chance Housing Fund$4 million
Projects outside tax credits$2.5 million
Salvation Army family shelter$2.1 million
Permanent camping site$0.75 million
  • Deficit: cut from about $31 million to around $15 million
  • Veteran Services Office move: $1.1 million, into a county-owned building
  • Human services restored: about $422,000
  • Conservation Fund: $10 million

To pay for restoring human services cuts, the board froze two vacant deputy positions in the Sheriff's Office for 2027, saving $367,067. WORT-FM reports tempers flared during the Nov. 4 debate. That funding returns in the 2028 base budget, and the board asked the Sheriff's Office to post its draft body-camera policy for at least 30 days of public comment.

UW-Madison

UW-Madison chancellor finalist John Coleman says he wants to return to campus

John Coleman, the second of three finalists to present, spent 22 years on the UW-Madison faculty. He's now provost at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. "I'm not looking for any other jobs," he told a Memorial Union crowd Thursday.

UW-Madison's three chancellor finalists present over three days

  1. Nov. 5UW-Madison names Rashid Bashir, John Coleman and Radenka Maric as finalists.
  2. Nov. 9Rashid Bashir presents.
  3. Nov. 12John Coleman presents at the Memorial Union.
  4. Nov. 13Radenka Maric is scheduled to present at Tripp Commons.
  5. Nov. 14The online feedback survey closes at 10:30 a.m.

Sources: The Capital Times, WMTV 15 NEWS

Coleman said cost is one of higher education's biggest challenges, and he said making higher education more affordable and accessible must be a priority. He said UW-Madison should reexamine whether to raise the income threshold for .

Illinois' aid covers families earning up to $75,000; Bucky's stops at $65,000

Source: The Capital Times

View as table
Value
Illinois program$75,000
Bucky's Tuition Promise$65,000
  • Last forum: Radenka Maric, Fri., Nov. 13, 4:30 p.m., Tripp Commons
  • Streaming: the event won't be streamed online
  • Feedback survey: open until 10:30 a.m. Sat., Nov. 14
  • Regents committee: interviews Friday and Saturday

The Board of Regents will appoint the next chancellor, who's expected to start next year. Interim Chancellor Eric Wilcots has led the campus since May, when Jennifer Mnookin left for Columbia University.

Asked

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Asked

Will you catch the last chancellor forum or weigh in on the survey?

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News Notes

City budget

Madison's Common Council approved a roughly $477.7 million operating budget Tuesday, Nov. 10. It avoids significant cuts to city services, though homeowners will pay more in property taxes. The 2027 budget also adds $12 million to the affordable housing fund, toward a goal of 15,000 more homes by 2030. WMTV 15 NEWSWKOW

Downtown report

Downtown Madison, Inc. released its 2026 State of the Downtown Report Thursday. Downtown's assessed property value reached $5.25 billion, and visits to the Central BID reached 9.7 million in 2025. WMTV 15 NEWS

9.9%of Madison's real estate taxes come from downtown plots

Those plots take up just 0.94% of the city's land area, according to Downtown Madison, Inc.'s 2026 report.

Source: WMTV 15 NEWS

Boys & Girls Clubs

Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County has named Dr. Leslie M. Petty its next president and CEO, effective Jan. 4, 2027. She has more than 30 years in education and leadership and leads Madison College's School of Academic Advancement. She succeeds interim CEO Taylor Jackson, who took over after longtime CEO Michael Johnson died in June. Petty told WMTV 15 NEWS the job feels like "full circle." Madison365In Business MadisonWMTV 15 NEWS

Mifflin Plaza

Madison plans to start reconfiguring the plaza at the top of State Street in the spring, almost immediately after construction wraps on the new Wisconsin History Center. The new designs include seating, flexible event space and public art. The plaza has been fenced off since work on the history center began. Wisconsin State JournalIn Business Madison

Fisher House

Ground was broken Nov. 5 on the $13 million Madison VA in Middleton. The 16-suite facility will house up to 48 people a night while their loved ones get care at the Madison VA Hospital. WKOW

The Buy

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Around Wisconsin

Egg settlement

More than 400,000 eggs arrived at Wisconsin food banks this week, the first shipments of about two million eggs from a multistate settlement. The deal is with Cal-Maine Foods, Versova/Centrum and Hickman's Egg Ranch, which allegedly colluded to manipulate egg prices. WKOW

More than 400,000 of about 2 million settlement eggs have reached Wisconsin food banks

400KEggs delivered to food banks this week, more than

Source: WKOW

View as table
Value
Eggs delivered to food banks this week, more than400K

Invasive species

The DNR announced revisions to its invasive species rule, ch. NR 40, that take effect Jan. 1, 2027. The update clarifies key sections and adds 65 species to the rule. GazetteXtraFOX6 News Milwaukee

Deer season

If you hunt, Wisconsin's nine-day gun deer season runs Nov. 21–29. Hunters must wear blaze orange or fluorescent pink on at least half of their outer clothing above the waist, and any hat or head covering must meet that requirement too. WMTV 15 NEWS

Asked

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Asked

What's on your Madison weekend list?

Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 39 games

Quoted

Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.

— Marie Curie

Things to Do

Things to Do

Madison, WI

Friday, Nov. 13

See every Madison eventFeature your event

Jobs

Jobs

See all Job listingsAdvertise your listing on our Jobs Board

The Buy

The Wrap

Ever wonder what happens behind the scenes when a museum rehangs its whole collection? The Chazen Museum of Art is pulling back the curtain today, Friday, Nov. 13, with a Talks & Tours Series on the reinstallation of its newly reimagined collection. It's free, and the conversations and gallery talks run 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Art nerds, rejoice.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? John Nolen Drive closes tonight; new Boys & Girls Clubs CEO named

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Every source in this edition23 links · 13 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. WKOWwkow.com
  3. WMTV 15 NEWSwmtv15news.com
  4. Channel 3000channel3000.com
  5. veronapress.comveronapress.com
  6. WORT-FM 89.9wortfm.org
  7. The Capital Timescaptimes.com
  8. WKOWwkow.com
  9. WMTV 15 NEWSwmtv15news.com
  10. WMTV 15 NEWSwmtv15news.com
  11. WKOWwkow.com
  12. WMTV 15 NEWSwmtv15news.com
  13. Madison365madison365.com
  14. In Business Madisonibmadison.com
  15. WMTV 15 NEWSwmtv15news.com
  16. Wisconsin State Journalmadison.com
  17. In Business Madisonibmadison.com
  18. WKOWwkow.com
  19. WKOWwkow.com
  20. GazetteXtragazettextra.com
  21. FOX6 News Milwaukeefox6now.com
  22. WMTV 15 NEWSwmtv15news.com
  23. Madison events calendar608today.5amcity.com

Past issues

  1. Sat., Nov. 14UW-Madison's three chancellor finalists have all been heard
  2. Thurs., Nov. 12John Nolen Drive closes tonight; new Boys & Girls Clubs CEO named
  3. Wed., Nov. 11Wisconsin measles cases hit 551; two Badgers up for Bednarik
  4. Tues., Nov. 10UW-Madison's chancellor finalists make their pitch this week
  5. Mon., Nov. 9Badgers clinch bowl eligibility; volleyball falls to Penn State
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608todayto me · Fri., Nov. 136:00 a.m.

Dane County signs its 2027 budget as UW-Madison's chancellor search nears the finish

Plus, the third UW-Madison chancellor finalist presents Friday afternoon at the Memorial Union.

The TLDR

  1. Agard signs Dane County's 2027 budget, with $29.35 million for housing
  2. UW-Madison chancellor finalist John Coleman makes his pitch
  3. Madison's Common Council approves a $477.7 million operating budget
Read this edition

More stories this week

From 608today’s other editions

All the news
UW-MadisonUW-Madison's third and final chancellor finalist made her case to campus FridayIf you follow the UW-Madison chancellor search, you've now heard from all three finalists. UConn President Radenka Maric made her case Friday, stressing research, affordability and student support.Today’s editionRead High School FootballMonona Grove beat New Richmond 30-7 and is headed back to Camp Randall for a state title gameIf you're a Monona Grove fan, save Fri., Nov. 20. The Silver Eagles beat New Richmond 30-7 in Friday's Division 2 semifinal, their first trip to a title game since 2016. They face Green Bay Notre Dame at 1 p.m. Jaxon Zukowski ran for a touchdown and threw a pass of more than 50 yards to Nic Busalacchi.Today’s editionRead Getting AroundJohn Nolen Drive's causeway closes overnight tonight, with another closure set for next weekIf you drive John Nolen Drive, plan around the causeway tonight. The City of Madison announced a full closure so crews have room for the equipment that will install the northbound causeway bridge girders and pour concrete bridge decks.Thursday’s editionRead

Around Madison

From WKOW, WLUK and 3 more newsrooms, gathered by 6AM News, 6AM City’s local news service.

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  4. WKOW2 hours ago

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