Madison Media Digest: Budgets, Community, Voting

Here’s what we were reading while pondering why anyone would try to make Halloween healthier

Budgets

The Madison Metropolitan School District is seeking a larger tax levy then it had proposed in its preliminary budget. State politics watchers likely will be looking closely at how Mary Burke -- a school board member, gubernatorial candidate, and donor to Madison Commons for education coverage -- will vote. The Madison Water Utility wants to increase “customer revenue” by 30 percent, which will be achieved through rate increases to fund infrastructure upgrades. Madison City Council president Chris Schmidt has proposed to increased the salary for the position, which he says is now a full-time job. Six developers are seeking to tap into the city’s new Affordable Housing Fund to build affordable rental units 

Community

Dane County announced plans for a restorative court, which will seek remedies outside the criminal justice system for young offenders. School suspensions are down 25 percent in Madison since the district implemented new disciplinary procedures A new study suggests that Wisconsin’s school voucher program tends steers most of its funds to students already enrolled in private school.

Mariela Quesada Centeno, head of adult programs at Centro Hispano, views the center as a source of empowerment in the community.  Capital City Hues says a spirit of organizing is taking hold among black women in Madison, pointing to Black Women’s Wellness Day and the upcoming Black Women Rock events as examples. Saris announced it has formed a partnership with Uber to provide drivers with racks for customer use. The Cap Times reports the environmental group responsible for sending the Public Service Commission a petition in favor of rate restructuring may not be accurate; several individuals on the list say they thought the group opposed the move, or never agreed to sign a petition.

Voting

Early voting has started, but for those confused by the constant changes in election law over the past few weeks, the State Journal answers some Frequently Asked Questions. Why vote? The Cap Times featured answers from current and past students of the Odyssey Project, a group focused on overcoming adversity.