2026 adopted capital budget
Where Madison's
capital money goes.
This page follows the $286.2 million adopted 2026 Capital Budget—the first year of Madison's 2026–31 Capital Improvement Plan for long-lived City investments.
2026 adopted capital budget$286.2M
$1.376B planned across the 2026–31 Capital Improvement Plan
Borrowing basics
What GO borrowing means
General-obligation (GO) borrowing is City borrowing authorized for capital projects. Madison's Capital Budget separates General Fund GO borrowing from Non-General Fund GO borrowing; together, they total $171.7 million in 2026.
The City's borrowing schedule estimates annual debt service using a 10-year repayment period and 3% interest.Read the City's debt overview → Capital project explorer
What Madison plans to build
Select an agency, then open a project to follow its yearly plan. The 2026 capital budget is the first year of the six-year Capital Improvement Plan.
Select an agency to see its verified project and program schedule. Amounts shown are not carryforward balances.
Spending type
What capital money buys
Capital spending is concentrated in assets and projects with long useful lives—from buildings and equipment to streets, loans, and utility infrastructure.
Building$86.5M
30.24%Machinery and equipment$44.5M
15.55%Street$38.6M
13.48%Loans$28.8M
10.05%Land improvements$24.4M
8.54%Stormwater network$19.0M
6.64% Funding
How capital projects are funded
General-obligation borrowing supplies the largest share. Federal and state sources, TIF, reserves, revenue bonds, special assessments, and other dedicated sources fund the remainder.
General Fund GO borrowing$125.7M
43.9%Non-General Fund GO borrowing$46.0M
16.1%Federal and state sources$28.6M
10.0%TIF increment$28.9M
10.1%Reserves applied$20.8M
7.3%Other sources$36.2M
12.7%Important distinction
Carryforward is not new spending.
$207.3 million of previously authorized general-obligation borrowing is carrying forward into 2026. It remains available for projects that span more than one year, but it is not added to the $286.2 million newly adopted 2026 capital budget.
Horizon List projects are also kept separate: they have a stated public purpose but are not yet included in the adopted 2026–31 plan.
Budget basics
Operating and capital are different
Keeping services running
Funds recurring, day-to-day costs such as salaries, public programs, supplies, utilities, and service contracts.
Explore the operating budget →Building for the long term
Funds major investments with long useful lives, including street reconstruction, new public buildings, substantial renovations, and large equipment purchases.