Fitchburg, WI District 3 Listening Session with Mayor Arata-Fratta

Fitchburg, Wisconsin District 3 listening session with Mayor Julia Arata-Fratta, October 30, 2026. The mayor outlined the proposed 2027 budget and capital plans; 14 council amendments had been discussed at a Committee of the Whole meeting, with budget approval expected November 10. The mayor cited a proposed $44 tax increase for an average $500,000 home. Upcoming capital work includes moving the police department into its new facility in April 2027, followed by a planned City Hall renovation, continued road resurfacing and reconstruction, and park improvements. District updates included a Dane County-led Rimrock Road resurfacing project scheduled for 2027 and a planned Irish Lane reconstruction in 2030. The city reported grants of more than $400,000 for a bike-and-pedestrian underpass and just under $1.7 million for another path project; about $300,000 in developer park fees is planned for improvements in Terravesta. No contract awards or procurement votes were reported.

Public safety officials described staffing needs and potential spending on technology and facilities. The fire department said a training center, financed through tax-incremental-district funding and assembled from shipping containers, was about 80% complete, and that two full-time firefighters had been added. The city is exploring regional fire and EMS consolidation, including possible efficiencies in equipment purchasing and administration, but no decision has been made. Police officials discussed a proposed technology package—including drone first-response capabilities, body and squad cameras, digital evidence tools, and license-plate-reading technology—that remains under evaluation; officials described a phased deployment and said the components could be considered separately. No vendor selection or contract approval was announced. Officials also said grant funding would support some fire training, equipment, and wellness efforts.