MADISON (WKOW) -- Dane County Executive Melissa Agard said Wednesday she is planning to institute a hiring freeze for non-essential positions in the county's government.

Agard said because the county is facing a $31 million dollar structural deficit for its 2026 budget and there is additional funding uncertainty due to the federal government shutdown, planning for county services is more complicated.

"Even before this shutdown, we were staring down difficult fiscal realities," she said in a statement. "Costs for services and infrastructure continue to climb, while revenues remain flat. Now, with federal dysfunction creating additional uncertainty, it would be reckless to continue with business as usual."

Because of that risk, Agard said she will go the the Dane County Board meeting on O

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