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Middleton council adopts 2026 budget, approves recycling fee and stop sign, denies rezoning
Summary
The Middleton Common Council unanimously adopted the 2026 city budget and levy, approved several budget amendments including a $10,000 playground capital addition and sewer utility adjustments, authorized a new annual recycling fee, approved a stop sign ordinance, and denied a rezoning request at University Avenue and Allen Boulevard.
The Middleton Common Council unanimously adopted the city's 2026 budget and levied property taxes for the 2025 tax year during its regular meeting on Nov. 1, 2025. Council members also approved several related budget amendments, an annual recycling fee, a new stop sign location and denied a requested rezoning.
The council adopted Resolution 2025-49 to approve the 2026 City of Middleton budget after the finance and personnel committee reported three changes added during committee review. Bill (city staff) told the council there were "three items that the finance and personnel committee acted to add to the budget" including a $10,000 addition to the Woodside Heights Park playground replacement project funded from 2025 carryover; an increase to Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) fee charges of $168,650 and a corresponding increase in sewer utility revenues of $224,528; and direction to staff to allocate the personnel contingency by fund and department for levy-supported funds. The resolution passed unanimously.
Council then approved Resolution 2025-50 levying property taxes for the 2025 tax year (the 2026 budget year) on a unanimous voice vote.
On a separate motion, the council adopted Resolution 2025-51 to amend the 2025 capital projects budget for concrete repairs at the Middleton Operations Center; members said the repair is urgent and that further related repairs may appear in next year's budget. The resolution passed unanimously.
The council voted to establish a 2026 EMS fee schedule via Resolution 2025-54. The motion was made on behalf of the finance and personnel committee and seconded by Alder Myers; it passed unanimously.
Ordinances and regulations: The council considered and adopted an ordinance to establish an annual recycling fee, with staff clarifying it would be placed as a special charge on the tax bill and collected once per year. The council voted to suspend the second-reading rule to allow immediate adoption so tax bills could be prepared for the year. Council members discussed the timing and noted that state law constrained other revenue options; the ordinance passed.
Separately, the council approved an amendment to stop-sign locations to add a stop sign at Lynn Street at Graeber Road after suspending the rules to expedite the change. The ordinance passed unanimously.
Land use: The council denied a rezoning request to rezone the property at the northeast corner of University Avenue and Allen Boulevard from PUDS to MUU on a motion from the planning commission representative; the denial passed unanimously.
What happens next: Several of the budget changes will be incorporated into departmental work plans and the sewer utility adjustments will be reflected in utility billing and financial reporting. The city clerk was directed to distribute adopted resolutions according to their respective provisions where required.
Council members closed the meeting with community announcements and adjourned for the evening.
