Micah LaDousa, Fitchburg District 4 Alder Newsletter

December 7, 2025

Welcome back!

As we head into the holiday season, I want to share a few updates about what’s been happening across Fitchburg, from budget decisions and tax changes to new community spaces, upcoming events, and even an amphibious rescue mission. Local government often feels dominated by numbers, roads, and ordinances, but the goal for me is building a strong, connected community. This month’s newsletter highlights both sides of that work: the practical issues that keep our city running and the people, places, and projects that make Fitchburg a place to call home.

Property Tax Info

Municipal Tax Increases

The property tax increases for most of the municipalities on your bill have now been finalized, and the numbers help show where your tax dollars are going. For the average Fitchburg home (assessed at $505,000), the estimated changes are:

City of Fitchburg: $83 (3.1%)
Dane County: $49 (3.9%)
Madison College: $7 (2.2%)

Fitchburg residents live in one of three school districts, so school tax changes depend on where you live:

Madison: 20%
Verona: 6.2%
Oregon: 2.2%

The increase in the Madison district is significant and reflects the two voter-approved referenda passed in 2024.

While the City sends the bill and collects the payments, it’s important to remember that only about one-third of your property tax bill funds city services. The rest goes directly to your school district, Dane County, and Madison College, each of which sets its own budget and levy.

As for the City portion, Fitchburg continues to take a careful, conservative approach to budgeting. We work within state-imposed levy limits, prioritize essential services, and evaluate new spending with long-term sustainability in mind. Although we often hear the perception that “government always overspends,” we strive to deliver high-quality services while being responsible stewards of your tax dollars.

Welcome New District 4 Alder

On November 25th, the Council voted to appoint a new Alder for District 4 to fill the vacancy created by Nicole Vafadari’s resignation. Council interviewed two candidates, Jake Lepper and Adam Gile, on November 17th, and voted to appoint Jake Lepper on the 25th.

Please join me in welcoming Jake as the new Alder for District 4. Jake serves as a Sergeant with the University of Wisconsin–Madison Police Department, recently retired from the Wisconsin National Guard, and brings a valuable public safety and service-focused perspective to the Council. I congratulate him on his appointment and look forward to working with him in the months ahead.

We were fortunate to have two outstanding candidates, each deeply committed to serving their neighbors and the broader community. Many residents shared with me their support for both applicants, and I want to sincerely acknowledge that. Adam would also have been an excellent Alder, and I appreciate his willingness to step forward and offer his time and talent. Moments like this highlight how committed and invested our community truly is, and it makes me proud to represent Fitchburg.

Spring Elections

The Spring Election is coming up in April, and several local offices will be on the ballot, including Mayor and four Alder seats. These positions play a crucial role in shaping the direction of our city and ensuring residents have a voice in local decision making.

If you’re interested in learning more about how to serve, or simply want to understand the process, nomination papers and information packets are available on the City’s website. Even if you’re not planning to run, the resources provide a helpful overview of how local government works and the responsibilities of each position.

Whether you choose to run for office, volunteer on a committee, or simply stay engaged as a voter, your participation strengthens our community. I’m grateful to everyone who takes the time to be involved in any capacity, and I look forward to a productive and respectful election season for all candidates.

Council Happenings

Efficiency Navigator Program Adjustments

One of the projects the City has been especially proud of is our Efficiency Navigator program. This initiative uses our Affordable Housing Fund to help upgrade rental properties with improvements like insulation, new furnaces, and energy efficient windows. In return, participating landlords agree to keep rents at affordable levels for their tenants. Families benefit from stable housing costs and lower utility bills, and our housing stock becomes more energy-efficient and modernized.

A portion of this program was supported by a federal grant. Unfortunately, that funding was recently clawed back by the federal government, and as a result we were unable to complete the planned window upgrades on several properties. These were projects ready to go, approved, budgeted, and expected by all involved parties, until the funding simply disappeared.

This is a clear example of how decisions made in Washington directly affect cities, towns, and villages. Many of the services and improvements residents rely on, including roads, transit, public safety equipment, and more, depend on federal grants. When those funds are delayed, reduced, or eliminated after planning is already underway, it disrupts our work and ultimately impacts the people we’re trying to serve.

Local governments function best when we can plan with certainty. Sudden changes at the federal level make that far more difficult, and programs that help our most vulnerable residents the most are often the ones put at risk.

Quarry Hill Pond: The City will be doing a planned dredging of Quarry Hill Pond this winter. Because many of the pond’s residents go dormant during the colder months, we brought in an expert to safely relocate dozens of frogs and turtles to another pond in Fitchburg before work begins. This was something I ever expected to see when I ran for Council, but I’m glad we could give our amphibious neighbors some help.

Plastic Recycling: You can now take plastic film, including plastic bags, plastic packaging wrap, bubble mailers, and bubble wrap, to the recycling drop-off site on Fish Hatchery Road. Items can be placed in the existing bin for styrofoam, which is located between the scrap metal and cardboard bins. This is a great addition, so make sure to save all the packaging from the holidays and ensure it gets properly recycled and kept out of the landfill.

Community Happenings

Get Festive with Agora and Holiday Lights Tour

This Friday, December 12th is the annual Get Festive with Agora event. It’s a great way to celebrate the holidays with the city, with carriage rides, food carts, hot chocolate, shopping with local businesses, and plenty more for residents and families. It’s always a fun gathering and a nice chance to support our local vendors and spend time with neighbors.

The evening also marks the start of the Fitchburg Holiday Lights Tour. You can explore the city’s light displays throughout the month, enjoy the creativity of your fellow residents, and cast a vote for your favorite. It’s one of my favorite traditions, and I hope you’ll have a chance to participate.

"The Hub" Grand Opening

As mentioned in my last update, I had the opportunity to attend the grand opening of “The Hub” at 2220 Traceway Drive. It was a wonderful event that brought together residents from all over Fitchburg, along with city staff, local nonprofits, and elected officials. Many of these partners have been working for more than five years to bring this project to life, and it was inspiring to see their dedication finally take shape. The building is beautiful, the playground is fantastic, and the facility will soon serve as a new polling place for the north end of the city.

Later this month, the Parks Commission will review and recommend a name to the council, with an official name expected to be approved by council in January. If you’d like to learn more about the project, the Wisconsin State Journal recently published a detailed feature on its development and opening.

Coppia Concerts Kicks Off Season

Four Winds Farm in southern Fitchburg is hosting the inaugural season of Coppia Concerts, a new series bringing exceptional musicians and chamber performances to the unique venue space at the Farm. I spend a lot of time in this newsletter talking about budgets, taxes, roads, and the practical responsibilities of city government, but one of the things that truly motivates me is building a stronger sense of community. The arts play a powerful role in that. Live performance, especially in an intimate setting like Four Winds, creates shared experiences that bring people together in a way few other things can.

I encourage you to check out Coppia Concerts, as well as the many other events hosted throughout the year at Four Winds Farm. The Farm continues to do excellent work highlighting the connection between Fitchburg’s growing city and its agricultural roots, and it’s exciting to see the arts becoming part of that bridge.

Stay in Touch

This week is the final council meeting of the year, but feel free to reach out anytime. Otherwise, I will see everyone back at council in January. I wish everyone a happy holiday season, even though winter unexpectedly arrived early. This is what I have to deal with when it's too cold and snowy for walks.

Below are some important sources I encourage you to access.

Youtube: Subscribe to the FACTv Youtube Channel. I highly recommend the Council Recaps, City Administrator Updates, and Talking Fitchburg videos. These are concise updates that give you the information you need.

NotifyMe: This is the city's text/email notification platform. I want to call out the library and senior center who have some great newsletters. Subscribe here.

Facebook: Start by following the City of Fitchburg, and then follow me. We can talk about additional pages in the future.