Fiscal Note
The proposed ordinance modifies Alder election terms to stagger start and end dates and establishes a transition period for the terms. Currently all alders are elected every other year, on the odd numbered years. With this change, some alders will be on the ballot every year.
When the City has items on the ballot, the County splits the ballot printing costs evenly between the City, the County, and the school districts. The City costs depend on the cost of paper and the number of ballots ordered. In addition, the County charges the City fees for programming election equipment. In April 2021, the City’s share for the ballot printing costs was $9,800 and the programming fees were $29,700.
Assuming there would not otherwise be City items on the even numbered year ballots, the increased cost of the ordinance change could be approximately $40,000 every other year. This cost would need to be incorporated into future election budgets.
There may also be internal administrative costs (e.g., more frequent Council member trainings), which may need to be addressed in future budgets.
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Title
Amending Section 3.01(1) of the Madison General Ordinances to Change Alder Terms and Elections.
Body
DRAFTER’S ANALYSIS: This ordinance modifies Alder election terms to stagger start and end dates and establish a transition period.
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The Common Council of the City of Madison do hereby ordain as follows:
1. Subsection (1) of Section 3.01 entitled “Organization Under Mayor Plan” of the Madison General Ordinances is amended as follows:
“(1) The government of the City of Madison is organized and constituted under Wis. Stat. ch. 62 providing for the City Mayor and Aldermanic plan with a Common Council composed of twenty (20) alderpersons, one (1) from each aldermanic district. The Mayor and alderpersons are to be elected for a term of two (2) years; provided, however, that beginning with the 1991 Spring Election, the Mayor shall be elected for a term of four (4) years, and that beginning with the 2025 Spring Election, alders shall be elected to staggered terms of two (2) years, with alders in even-numbered districts elected in even-numbered years and alders in odd-numbered districts being elected in odd-numbered years. To implement the staggered terms, the 2025 Spring Election shall include one-year terms for alders in even-numbered Districts. In subsequent elections the term for all alders shall be two years.”
2. This ordinance shall take effect if passed by referendum at the 2023 Spring Election.