🚰 Water bills may go up next year

🎒 School Board OKs Balanced $668M Budget

• In June, Madison school officials expected they would face a $12 million deficit in its 2025-26 operating budget. But the Madison School Board approved a $668 million budget Monday without needing to draw from any of its reserves. The district balanced its budget thanks to an unexpected surge in special education funding from the state.
• But uncertainty about the federal government shutdown could cause budget headaches down the road, especially when it comes to federal reimbursement for school meals and the Head Start early child care and education program. Nine southwest Wisconsin schools have already closed their Head Start programs in anticipation of the shutdown. [Cap Times, WPR]

🚰 Madison Water Bills May Go Up Next Year

• Madison Water Utility is seeking a rate increase that would go into effect next March to cover rising infrastructure and operating costs.
• Rates could rise up to 14.8% over the next two years, or 6.5% annually. Utility officials said the average consumer who uses 4,000 gallons of water per month would see their monthly bill rise by $6.60.
• Over the past decade, the utility has spent $81 million to replace 400,000 feet of outdated water main lines, and built a new facility to filter out harmful chemicals known as PFAS. [City of Madison, 🔒WSJ, 📝City Cast Madison]

🚨 Whitehorse Staff On Leave Amid Sexual Assault Investigation

• Madison police are investigating allegations that two male staffers at Whitehorse Middle School sexually assaulted a male student off school grounds. The staffers have been put on leave while the investigation is underway.
• The allegations were originally published on social media, and Madison police said some of the details have proven to be “incorrect and potentially harmful.” A woman who identified herself as the victim’s mother spoke at Monday’s Madison School Board meeting, calling for accountability and student safety.
• 🎧 Dig deeper: It’s a busy week for the Friday news roundup on the City Cast Madison podcast. We talk about the Whitehorse allegations, plus layoffs and budget cuts coming to UW-Madison, and what you can do to help as SNAP food assistance benefits are at risk. Plus, on a lighter note, we talk about Halloween costume ideas! [Cap Times, 🎧 City Cast Madison]

It’s Halloween, which for some of us means it’s the time of year when we dress our fluffy friends up in adorable costumes.

I put the call out to Madison Minutes readers to share their costumed floofs, and you delivered! Happy Halloween, everybody!

Gilligan and Skipper went as themselves for Halloween! Ahoy, mateys!

Han Solo is a former barn cat who loves snuggling with humans, chattering at birds, and napping in his heated bed. And even though he’s a cat, he doesn’t seem to mind dressing as a dog (even a Chicago hot dog).

TipToe was a stray found behind her person’s work years ago and was a shy, timid kitten with a meow not louder than a whisper. “I found this bee costume at St. Vinnie's and it fits her perfectly although I'm not sure if she enjoys wearing it as much as we like seeing her wear it.”

Finally, City Cast Madison producer Jade Iseri-Ramos shared a photo of her little monster, JoJo!