Unfortunately for Dwight Schrute, we’re talking about budgets, buildings, and the Beltline not bears, beets, and Battlestar Galactica on this week’s Friday news roundup. The City Council passed the 2026 budget and voted down an amendment that would defund the Office of the Independent police Monitor. A proposed building development on West Wilson has us, and the surrounding neighborhood, asking how necessary is parking downtown. Plus, the state has finished its study on the Beltline and has solutions for the traffic, and no they don’t suggest adding a north or south Beltline. City Cast Madison executive producer Hayley Sperling digs into these stories and more with newsletter editor Rob Thomas, and producer Jade Iseri-Ramos.

Mentioned on the show:

Madison passes $453 million budget, rejects move to pull police monitor funding [Isthmus]
City of Madison 2026 Mayor’s Budget [Wisconsin Policy Forum]

City undecided on 16-story Wilson Street development with no parking [Wisconsin State Journal]

Recommendations for Beltline aim to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion [Wisconsin State Journal]

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