richelle andrae
Thank you for the opportunity to serve District 11, which includes most of Hill Farms, Shorewood Village, and the neighborhoods immediately east of Midvale Blvd. I’ve lived in Madison since 2013, and reside just west of Hilldale. I’ve experienced our community through the eyes of a student, a young professional working in non-profit, an academic, and a volunteer. During the day, I am an advocate for safety net clinics in Wisconsin, working with state policymakers and partners to ensure that all residents have access to quality health care, regardless of income or insurance status. I’ve previously worked on local public health evaluation projects, rural workforce development, and Medicaid policy. After serving an AmeriCorps service term in California, I returned to Wisconsin and worked directly with underserved teens in Madison high schools, helping them find and keep their first jobs.
On the County Board, I Chair the Public Protection & Judiciary Committee, which has oversight for the Dane County Sheriff's Office, District Attorney's Office, Emergency Management, 911 Call Center, Courts, Pre-Trial Services, Medical Examiner, and more. A few of my "success stories" on the Board include navigating the complex jail consolidation project, improving constituent outreach by encouraging implementation of a blog system for Supervisors, and budget amendments to embed crisis expertise in emergency response and improve the pay structure for staff attorneys to support the timely service of justice. I also serve on the Dane County Food Policy Council and Greater Madison MPO, which administers transportation-related funding and programs across the region.
When I’m not at work or engaged in Board activities, you can find me at the Odana dog park with my rescue pup, Roux. I studied Spanish at UW-Madison during my undergrad, and earned a Masters in Public Affairs from the La Follette School, focusing on health policy and administration. Please reach out at any time and I look forward to working with you.
Neighbors,
This email has information about:
County Budget – Passed on Nov. 6, Now onto the Executive
Wednesday night this week the County Board passed our 2026 county budget after several hours of debate, mostly focused on the issue of staffing in the Sheriff’s Office. The budget will next go to the County Executive for her consideration.
Highlights of the budget: The spending plan, which includes $825.6 million for operating expenditures and $90.5 million for capital expenditures, balances fiscal discipline with community investment, funding critical services in public safety, human services, housing, and behavioral health. Together, these investments sustain vital county functions and reflect the board’s focus on both immediate needs and long-term community well-being.
The approved budget includes provisions that:
Amendments I worked on add funding for detoxification services in order to avoid a service cliff, and restore positions in the Deferred Prosecution restorative justice program and 2 clerks for effective functioning of the judicial branch. The approved budget sets a property tax rate of $2.48 per $1,000 of equalized value, resulting in a 1.29% increase to the tax levy. For the average City of Madison home valued at $481,300 (yes, this is the average City home value, wow), this represents a tax increase of just over $15. That’s up from calendar year 2025 where the net rate was $2.57 per $1,000 in value.
There are several major challenges in this budget, too. In many ways, we’ve put band-aids on key issues to keep the trains running on time and address critical needs, but will need to revisit the structural deficit for 2027. A lot of the low-hanging fruit, at this point, has been plucked, and we’ve brought this budget together through eliminating dozens of vacant positions across county government, along with a temporary furlough. These positions are vacant not because the work is not important, but because of transitions and new roles added in the last budget. In some ways, we’re right-sizing, but in many others we are reducing our capacity to serve Dane County and meet community needs. For 2027, we’ll no longer have vacant positions to eliminate for cost-savings and I don’t think a continued furlough is what our community needs when the demand for services continues to rise. There will be additional increased expenses for county health insurance, and I expect we will see no major increase in sales tax revenue as the economy continues to see yellow flags ahead. I’m mindful of the limited resources so many constituents face and our need for fiscal responsibility moving forward, and also the real value that county services provide for our whole community. Ever a balancing act.
To conclude my budget communication on a positive note, my colleague Sup. Keith Furman issued opening remarks at the Board meeting on Nov. 6. His appreciation for county government and the shining light we collectively follow to “do good” warrants sharing, so I’ve included his remarks here. He highlights so many essential services, ones we may never need, and in fact hope we never do, but that our community relies on.
“Throughout the year, other Supervisors have rightfully so pointed out the chaos we’re seeing the federal administration inflict on our neighbors. What was previously thought to be unimaginable uses of the American government to torment people in our country is happening and escalating. I’m not going to focus on detailing those abuses. We’ve had a long week and passed a difficult budget.
So often, our jobs have us focused on what's broken. But shortly before we celebrate Thanksgiving, I want to speak about something else entirely; something I know I don't do enough. I want to talk about the profound importance of recognizing the good that persists even in our most challenging moments.
Gratitude isn't about being blindly optimistic or ignoring life's challenges. Instead, it's a deliberate choice to acknowledge difficulties while also recognizing hope—a way of resisting hopelessness by seeing both hardships and possibilities.
When we think about gratitude, we often focus on family, friends, and personal achievements. There’s a lot to be said for those things, but tonight I want to focus on gratitude for things that aren’t broken in this county.
There's an entire network of county services working behind the scenes that deserves our appreciation—services so essential that most only notice them when they're gone.
Consider the dispatcher who answers when you call 9-1-1—a calm voice in your moment of crisis, ensuring additional help is on the way. Think about the deputies patrolling our communities—responding to emergencies, investigating crimes, and building relationships.
I’m grateful for the social workers who step in when children need protection, who support families in crisis, and who ensure our elderly neighbors and those with disabilities can live with dignity. These professionals carry heavy burdens—so the most vulnerable in our community don't have to face theirs alone.
I appreciate the highway crews who clear roads at 3 a.m. during snowstorms, the librarians opening doors to knowledge and resources for every resident regardless of income, and the land and water specialists protecting the natural resources that sustain us. I’m grateful too for the parks staff who preserve green spaces where we can breathe, play, and reconnect with nature.
I’m thankful for the veterans' services staff who honor those who served by helping them navigate benefits they've earned, and the pretrial services and justice reform teams working to create a fairer system.
I'm grateful for the County Board staff who support supervisors in serving our constituents— who help translate community concerns into action, and who ensure that every voice seeking to be heard in local government finds a pathway to participation.
Even services we hope never to need—the Medical Examiner bringing closure to grieving families, Emergency Management preparing for disasters, Family Court Services helping children during difficult transitions—these represent our community's commitment to supporting each other through every circumstance.
County government isn't glamorous. But it's a part of the foundation of civilized community life—the promise that someone will answer when we need help, that our natural resources are maintained and protected, that vulnerable people won't be forgotten, and that we're all in this together.
Let’s not lose sight of why we do this work—because we believe in the possibility of progress, because we trust in the capacity of good people to create good outcomes, because we know that even small improvements in policy can mean profound changes in individual lives.
The world is indeed complicated. The challenges are real and serious. But gratitude is not about denying difficulty—it's about maintaining perspective. It's about remembering that throughout history people have faced dark times before and found their way through. It's about recognizing that for every force that seeks to divide or destroy, there are countless forces working to heal and unite. Like Mister Rogers taught us, we can look for the helpers. See them. Acknowledge them. And Support them.
The world needs our careful attention to its problems. But it also needs our recognition of its profound beauty, its persistent goodness, its endless possibility for renewal.
So give thanks. Give hope. And give your best.”
Here are a few upcoming webinars on housing issues, some held in partnership with the county’s Regional Housing Network (https://rhs.danecounty.gov/
Regional Housing Network (RHN) -- Double Feature Webinar
Thursday, December 11, 2025, 3:00-4:00PM
New Residential Zoning Code Guide to Address the Housing Crisis & New 2050 Dane County Population Projections
Our next RHN Webinar will feature two presentations! Sonja Kruesel, Associate Planner, Vandewalle & Associates, will discuss the newly released Best Practices Residential Zoning Code Guide, and how zoning can be used to address Dane County's housing crisis and create a more affordable and diverse housing supply. Please join us for an interactive discussion and hear about more learning opportunities to come! All welcome!
In addition, Dane County Senior Planner Olivia Parry, Jason Valerius, CARPC Executive Director, and Sean Higgins, Senior Community Planner, will present on the newly released 2050 Dane County Population Projections, with an emphasis on the projections for cities and villages. Discussion will include an overview of the new projections, why they were created, and how they can be used as a helpful tool to make informed decisions when planning for current and future growth. We hope to see you there! Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/94310243246
Sustain Dane Summit- Housing Panel
Friday, November 7, 2025
Monona Terrace (1 John Nolen Drive, Madison)
Join us at the Sustain Dane Summit on November 7, 2025, a conference for sustainability enthusiasts to learn, connect, share, reflect, and build new personal and professional skills. This year’s summit will feature a Housing & Sustainability session. Housing is a cornerstone of community well-being, influencing everything from social connection and public health to economic stability and climate resilience. Affordable housing plays a vital role within this broader housing ecosystem, ensuring access and equity for all. This session will explore the relationship between housing and sustainability. We will explore collaborative approaches to both preserving existing homes and developing new homes that incorporate sustainability into local housing solutions.
A panel will share diverse perspectives: a visionary outlook for our housing future, the history and current housing challenges, and the implementation of local geothermal, weatherization, and other measures. There will also be time for participants to discuss what they would put on their sustainability scorecard for housing. Scholarships for event admission may be available based on financial need. Learn more and register here.
County Board Chair Proposes Creation of an Advisory Committee on Data Centers
Committee will empower Dane County communities to make informed decisions about large-scale data center development
Dane County Board Chair Patrick Miles joined representatives from the Dane County Cities and Villages Association (DCCVA), and the Dane County Towns Association (DCTA) Thursday to announce the introduction of a county board resolution creating the Dane County Advisory Committee on Data Centers that will study the risks, benefits, and complex questions raised by large-scale data center development.
2025 RES-205 will be introduced at the Dane County Board of Supervisors meeting Thursday evening. The proposal calls for an 11-member advisory committee comprising representatives from county towns, cities, and villages; environmental and energy experts; and members of the public with expertise in data center development, land use, and sustainability.
“As the demand for artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure grows, data centers are becoming a major development trend across the country, including Wisconsin,” said County Board Chair Patrick Miles. “These projects promise to bring investment and jobs, but they also raise complex questions about energy use, water resources, and long-term land use.
The committee will examine topics such as:
Energy and water use and their impacts on local utilities and ratepayers;
Land use and environmental compatibility, including farmland preservation and infrastructure planning;
Economic and fiscal impacts, including tax base and employment effects; and
Intergovernmental coordination and policy options for consistent review of data center proposals.
“Towns need clear, reliable information to make sound decisions about data center proposals,” said Renee Lauber, executive director of the Dane County Towns Association. “We need to understand how these developments align with local comprehensive plans and the county zoning code, what authority towns have to regulate them, and what lessons can be learned from other communities. I appreciate Chair Miles’ leadership in establishing this committee to bring local governments and stakeholders together. By working collaboratively, we can ensure that future growth respects our farming communities, supports compact development, and protects our land and water resources for generations to come.”
The advisory committee will convene within 60 days of adoption and deliver findings and policy recommendations within one year. Its report will serve as a resource for local governments, residents, and county departments as they consider future proposals and land use decisions.
The resolution is expected to be referred to the county board’s Zoning & Land Regulation Committee, Personnel & Finance Committee, and Executive Committee for review. 2025 RES-205 will be publicly available on the Dane County Legislative Information Center (https://dane.legistar.com) beginning on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025.
Ordinance Changing Special Elections
At the Nov. 6 Board meeting, we also approved a change to our local ordinances about special elections for County Board seats. See https://dane.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=14790423&GUID=885797F9-8DEE-41E9-BCE1-FE181FAD6B77 for the details on the resolution and an attached fact sheet on the issue. It includes some helpful explainers on how appointments work in relation to vacancies. The point of this resolution is to align elections with other regular election cadences and ensure timely representation for all residents.
Thank you all, and I look forward to seeing you around the neighborhood.
In service,
Richelle Andrae
Dane County Board Supervisor District 11
