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Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022

Is Madison’s guaranteed-income pilot program funded by taxpayers?

Hope Karnopp, Wisconsin Watch
no

Madison's guaranteed income pilot program is funded entirely by private donations, not taxpayers, according to the city's website.

The program's donors include UW Health, Madison Gas & Electric Foundation and Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, a network of mayors advocating for the policy.

The $930,000 Madison Forward Fund began distributing $500 monthly payments to 155 families in September chosen randomly from nearly 3,000 families who applied.

Research centers at the Universities of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Pennsylvania will survey participants after the 12-month pilot concludes to gauge the impact of a guaranteed income.

Other pilot programs have found that participants spend the payments on basic needs like food and transportation.

Wausau passed a resolution supporting a program in 2021, but the city has not yet started a pilot.

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said he was open to the idea, but said the city could currently not afford it.

See a full discussion of this at Wisconsin Watch

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

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