MADISON (WKOW) -- The Madison Common Council passed a budget for 2026 Tuesday night after a new amendment was introduced to defund the Office of the Independent Monitor (OIM) and fund police body-worn cameras for the Madison Police Department.

During an early start to the Common Council meeting, nearly all alders were in attendance.

The new amendment proposes transferring over $400,000 to the Madison Police Department's body-worn camera project.

The money would not go directly towards the actual cameras, but the extra cash would be just shy of covering two program assistants, two IT specialists and one forensic lab technician to operate the system.

Alders in favor of the cameras say it's time for the city to add the technology.

"Right now, our most urgent thing is getting into the 21

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