Madison, Wisconsin

C
Budget Y Meetings Y Elected Officials Y Administrative Officials P Permits, zoning Y Audits Y Contracts P Lobbying N Public records P Local taxes Y Transparency grading process

Madison is the capital city of Wisconsin.

Website evaluation

Main article: Evaluation of Wisconsin city websites

Last rated on November 18, 2012.

The good

• Budget
  • The most current budget is listed.
  • Budgets are archived for 14 years.^[1]
• Meetings
  • Meeting minutes are archived for 7 years.
  • Meeting agendas are archived for 7 years.
  • A meeting calendar is available and names the times and locations of public meetings.^[2]
  • Meeting video is available.
• Elected Officials
  • Elected officials are listed with a mailing address, phone number and personalized email.^[3]
• Administrative Officials
  • Department heads are listed for each department.^[4]
• Building Permits and Zoning
  • Zoning ordinances are posted online.^[5]
  • Permit applications can be downloaded on the site, along with information on how to apply for the permits.^[6]
• Audits
  • The most recent audit is posted.
  • Audits dating back to 1998 are available.^[7]
• Contracts
  • Bids and RFPs are posted online.^[8]
• Public Records
  • The public information officer is identified and maintained by the City Clerk position. This person provides a mailing address, phone number and personalized email.^[9]
• Local Taxes
  • Tax revenues are broken down by federal, state, and local funding in the budget.
  • Local taxes, like property taxes, are available online.
  • Residents are able to pay taxes online.^[10]

The bad

• Administrative Officials
  • Personalized emails are not provided for all administrative officials.
• Contracts
  • Approved contract statements are not available for vendors above $10,000.
• Lobbying
  • If the city engaged in lobbying actives or if it's a member of government lobbying associations are not disclosed. Nor is the total cost lobbying activities or membership dues for associations available.
• Public Records
  • Public records request form and fee schedule not provided.

Elected Officials

Lobbying

Main article: Wisconsin government sector lobbying

In 2011, Madison spent $15,487 on lobbying efforts. ^[11]

In the 2005-2006 Legislative Session, Madison spent roughly $30,000 lobbying the legislature arguing against concealed carry legislation, against the marriage amendment and in favor of embryonic stem cell research, among other things.^[12]

Public employee salaries

Main article: Madison employee salaries

In December of 2010, the city agreed on a new bus contract. Some provisions of the contract stimulate that oder drives cannot increase their public pensions by taking overtime hours. The new contract is also expected to save the city $400,000 annually.^[13]

The highest paid bus drive in 2009 earned over $159,000, $79,000 which was in overtime, while seven other bus drivers made more than $100,000 that year.^[13]

External links

Madison, Wisconsin

• Madison official site

References

	v • d • e State of Wisconsin Madison (capital)
Transparency	Open Records Law | Transparency Checklist | Government corruption reports | Transparency Legislation | Open Records procedures | Transparency Advocates | Transparency blogs | State budget | Taxpayer-funded lobbying associations |
Divisions	State | List of Counties | List of Cities | List of Towns | List of School Districts | Evaluation of county websites | Evaluation of city websites | Evaluation of township websites | Evaluation of school district websites |
Government	Wisconsin State Constitution | Executive | State Assembly | Senate |
Judiciary	Wisconsin Supreme Court | Courts of Appeal | Circuit Courts | Municipal Courts | Wisconsin Commission Appointed Judicial Method Proposal | Wisconsin Judicial Commission | Wisconsin Supreme Court elections | Judicial news | Judicial activist organizations |
Ballot Measures	Ballot measures | School bond referendum | List of local ballot measures | Procedures for qualifying an initiative | Amending the constitution | History of direct democracy | Campaign finance requirements | Sunshine on elections |