Madison, Wis. – On Monday the Dane County Board of Supervisors unveiled a revised 2027 budget package, known as Sub 1, that modifies County Executive Melissa Agard’s original proposal. The changes aim to soften cuts to human‑services programs while trimming a modest amount of law‑enforcement spending.

Key funding shifts

The board redirected $7.25 million toward affordable housing and shelter initiatives, addressing a growing need for safe, low‑cost homes across the county. In addition, $70,000 was moved from the Human Services line item to support Journey Mental Health’s crisis‑intervention programming, filling a contractual funding gap and expanding access to urgent mental‑health care.

Law‑enforcement cost‑saving measure

To offset part of the budget shortfall, the board temporarily froze two vacant deputy positions in the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, resulting in a $367,067 reduction in expenditures. The board clarified that funding for those positions will be automatically restored in the 2028 base budget, ensuring the sheriff’s office can resume full staffing next year.

Board’s perspective

Supervisor Heidi Wegleitner, chair of the Health and Human Needs Committee, acknowledged the package is not perfect but emphasized its intent to protect essential services. “What these amendments do is address critical service gaps and reduce the harm those reductions would cause,” Wegleitner said, noting that testimony from residents who rely on human‑services programs helped shape the revisions.

Legislative process

The Personnel and Finance Committee approved the amended package unanimously on Thursday. The full board is scheduled to begin deliberations and take final action on the 2027 budget at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

Implications for residents

By preserving funding for affordable housing and mental‑health crisis response, the board aims to keep vulnerable families and individuals from falling through the safety net. Community leaders have praised the focus on housing stability and mental‑health resources, calling the adjustments a responsible use of taxpayer dollars.

While the temporary freeze of deputy positions draws criticism from some law‑enforcement advocates, the board’s plan to reinstate those roles in the next fiscal year seeks to balance fiscal prudence with public‑safety needs.

Overall, the revised budget reflects Dane County’s commitment to maintaining essential human‑services programs while exercising careful stewardship of limited resources.

Original reporting: NBC15 WMTV (Gray) – local — read the source article.