I have lived and worked in Dane County since 1995. I married a woman from Madison and we raised our three boys here. I know how wonderful Dane County is and how much it has to offer. My family has been involved in youth sports and animal rescue. We have taken advantage of the bike paths, lakes, dog parks and spaces for hunting and fishing. This is a great place to live and I want it to stay that way. My role as a board supervisor is to listen to the people of my district and work for what they think is most important for maintaining the quality of living we have in Dane County.
Background
I received a degree in Biochemistry from Yale and my medical degree at UCLA. I came here for training as an orthopedic surgeon and eventually became an Associate Clinical Professor at the UW-Madison. I retired in 2023, but continue to work as the Chief of orthopedics at the Veterans Hospital in Madison.
Issues
My biggest concern is the financial situation in Dane County. In the past 4 years the operating budget for the county has gone up 32% and the debt has gone up an incredible 66%. We now pay about 50 million dollars a year on interest payments on our debt. To pay for this, our property taxes in the county have gone up 32% in the last 4 years. For all the talk of affordable housing, this out of control spending is a driver of unaffordable housing.
“The operating budget totals $789,298,454. The capital budget is $179,216,700. The budget includes a levy increase of 13.6% driven primarily by increased debt service costs. Property taxes on the average Madison home will increase by $147.22.” – Dane County Press Release 11/06/23
Contact me
Tell me about your concerns
608-821-1234
Friendsofjohnwollaeger@yahoo.com
John Wollaeger 