2022 Fire Staffing Referendum

In March 2022, WLFD completed an options assessment detailing the staffing challenges faced by the District, the identified solutions, and potential options for municipalities served by the District to provide necessary additional funding. The options assessment cited increased calls for services, a growing population and decreased availability of local paid-on-call firefighters as putting a significant strain on WLFD, resulting in increased response times that put residents and properties at risk. 

Because of state-imposed levy limits, municipalities within the District must receive approval from voters through a referendum to authorize an increase to the tax levy to fund the services. 

Why do we need a referendum now?

 

  • With calls for service up 74% and local paid-on-call staffing down 69%, WLFD is challenged with increased response times that put residents, and their property, at risk.
  • Every year, WLFD loses an average of 40 part-time staff members, largely because they obtain full-time employment or take higher-paying jobs including with other fire departments. The majority WLFD’s part-time staff are paid just $14 an hour.
  • Because of state-imposed levy limits, municipalities within the District must receive approval from voters through a referendum to authorize an increase to the tax levy to fund the services. 

If a majority vote “yes”

If community referendums are approved by a majority of voters, WLFD will improve staffing and increase wages to bring fire and EMS capabilities in line with industry standards and best practices, resulting in:

Additional staff, including:

  • 33 additional in-station firefighter / paramedics (11 per shift across the WLFD footprint), eliminating the need to wait for paid- on-call staff to arrive before staff respond to a call;
  • 3 additional battalion chiefs (one per shift);
  • 15 paid internship positions (positions are not new, but new Department of Labor regulations require that intern positions be paid);
  • 1 full-time administrative assistant; and
  • 1 additional fire inspector.

Increased wages to maintain current staff and avoid staff departures to other departments, be competitive in the market and enhance staff recruitment. 

The ask of voters

 On August 9, 2022, voters will be asked if they approve increased property taxes to fund WLFD. Increasing staffing levels will require an additional $6.3 million each year shared across WLFD communities that receive fire services, based on a funding formula that accounts for a community’s calls for service, population, the value of their facilities, and land value. 

 Attend an upcoming information session!

WLFD will be hosting eight info sessions in partnership with each community. The first session will take place on June 15 at 6:00 p.m. at Meadow View Elementary School. Due to limitations with the ability to broadcast sessions virtually at some locations with audio and visual, a video will be posted to the District website of the information presentation. In addition, the upcoming session in the City of Oconomowoc on Monday, July 11th at 6pm will be streamed virtually. See a full calendar of upcoming sessions below.
 


 


Vote on August 9th!

Visit myvote.wi.gov to find your polling place and/or request an absentee ballot.

Wondering if your updated property assessment will alter the tax impact of the proposed referendum?

Just because your new assessed value is higher does not mean that your taxes will be higher. If your new assessment is greater than or lower than the overall assessment change in your municipality, the tax impact you feel may be slightly different from the estimates we have shared.  
 
As a rule, when the total assessed value of the municipality increases, the individual impact of the Fire Referendum will decrease. This is because the Fire Referendum is a fixed amount. Mill rates are calculated by taking the amount of funding needed and dividing by the total assessed value of the community. This gives us a mill rate, or rate per thousand dollars of value. If the total goes up and the amount of funding needed remains the same, the mill rate will decrease. As the assessed value of each community is recalculated, mill rates will be updated.  
 
For example: If the average residential home in the community increases by 12%, the mill rate for the Referendum will decrease. If your home value increases by 12% the net effect is close to $0. Your increased value multiplied by the lower Mill Rate should come out very close to the same as before the new assessment. However, if your home value changed significantly more or less than the overall rate, there will be an offsetting effect in cost. 
 
 
As the assessed value of each community is recalculated, mill rates will be updated.
 
 

 

Check out these resources to learn more and make an informed decision