Dane County Plans Hiring Freeze Amid $31M Deficit, Federal Shutdown Impact

Dane County Executive Melissa Agard has announced a hiring freeze on all non-essential vacancies in response to a $31 million structural deficit facing the county for 2026, compounded by the ongoing federal government shutdown under President Trump. The freeze exempts critical positions related to public safety and frontline services. Agard highlighted that rising costs, particularly in employee health insurance which more than doubled since 2017, and stagnant revenues were already straining the county's budget before the shutdown added further uncertainty. To address these challenges, Agard proposed a new budget aiming to reduce total spending by 3%, marking the end of six years of budget increases, and includes voluntary unpaid time off and early retirement incentives without planned layoffs. The proposal also suggests a likely 3% reduction in property taxes, though Dane County supervisors will vote on it in the coming weeks. Despite fiscal pressures, Agard emphasized her commitment to maintaining essential services and a stable workforce, underscoring that the county will prioritize service to residents during this challenging period.