Madison's $100M Budget Green-Lighted; Community Center Funding Axed

MADISON — On Tuesday, voters endorsed the town’s suggested $100.1 million budget; however, they firmly rejected the allocation of an extra $8.1 million for the Academy Community Center , leaving its outcome uncertain.

The ballot initiative to authorize extra funding for the new community center, pushing the budget to $24 million, did not pass with votes tallying 3,670 against and 1,483 in favor, indicating approximately 72% of voters opposed it, as per provisional counts from the Town Clerk’s office.

The town budget of $35.3 million was ratified with votes tallying 3,076 in favor and 1,991 against, whereas the approval for the $64.8 million educational budget stood at 3,174 supporting votes versus 1,892 opposing ones, as reported by the clerk’s office.

The fate of the community center is unclear, town officials say.

Peggy Lyons, the Democratic First Selectwoman, expressed her disappointment with the outcome and offered a "sincere thanks" to all the volunteers and members of the building committee who dedicated their efforts to the project across multiple years.

"While I genuinely regret that the community decided against moving forward with the Academy Community Center project, I understand their numerous reservations given the current turbulent circumstances," Lyons stated in a written statement.

Since the very beginning, this initiative has been guided by the community, and now the community has shaped its conclusion. I've consistently believed that the direction of significant town resources like this one ought to be in the hands of citizens rather than politicians.

Selectman Bruce Wilson, a Republican, said he was not surprised by the vote against the community center funding.

“I’m not surprised by today’s vote and grateful to everyone who showed up at the polls. The message is clear: taxpayers do not support this project,” he said.

“As a Selectman, I see this as a mandate to move quickly with a plan to demolish the building. I’m committed to turning this property into a vibrant green space for outdoor community use. I will do everything in my power to bring that vision to life," Wilson added.

Lyons said when the Academy referendum passed the first time in early 2022, “We were emerging from COVID and voters saw the wisdom in creating a facility that celebrates togetherness rather than sows division.”

The town initially budgeted $15.9 million for the project in 2022 .

But now, Lyons said, townspeople “are in a different time” and “many are in a very pessimistic mood — they are worried about the direction of our country, nervous about their economic future, and exhausted by a barrage of negative rhetoric.”

She stated that the Academy vote provided "individuals an opportunity to express their views on the most feasible approach for the Town to move forward considering the challenges we encountered, and now, asTown leaders, our duty is to heed their input."

A $24 million proposal aimed to transform the abandoned historical school, dubbed "the cornerstone of downtown," into a multifunctional community hub and local government office. The redesign encompassed features such as a gymnasium, a performance space, an art studio, a professional-grade kitchen, a relaxation area, along with multiple conference areas. An online clip from the municipality showcases the aged structure boasting a fresh, vibrant, contemporary inside design featuring lofty ceilings.

Additionally, according to that proposal, the town’s Beach and Recreation Department would have relocated their offices there, along with Madison Youth and Family Services.

"With this clear decision, we can now close the chapter on the community center project and discover a new way forward, one that allows us all to move ahead collectively," Lyons stated in her message.

The overall rise in the town’s budget mirrors a stable property assessment totaling $42.5 billion for this year, which can be attributed partly to updated state regulations concerning motor vehicles that came into play this year, as stated by municipal authorities. According to Budget Director Kristen Bartosic, these changes led to a decrease of $450,000 in automobile-related tax income, marking an 8% decline.