Here's what to know about the town and city of Delafield's fire services referendums

DELAFIELD - On April 4, voters in both the city and town of Delafield will decide how hot of an issue fire department resources are to their communities.

Both municipalities are jointly served by Lake Country Fire & Rescue, a department that also serves the towns of Delafield and Genesee and the villages of Chenequa, Nashotah, Oconomowoc Lake and Wales. But the two Delafield communities combined have a population of nearly 16,000, more than the total of the five other communities, elevating the concentration of fire services in each.

Fire officials are essentially asking Delafield residents, by choice, to pay more to help relieve a staffing crisis that has forced fire stations to close and slowed response times. It's part of a plan to transition the department to full-time rescue and fire workers within the next three years. While both referendums carry the same goal, the wording is different to address the varying financial mechanisms of each measure.

How is the city's referendum worded?

The city of Delafield's measure would shift the costs from property tax levy to an annual fee, one which would generate additional funds for fire and rescue services.

Its referendum reads: "Wisconsin Statutes authorize the City of Delafield to assess a fee for fire protection and emergency medical services. A 'YES' vote would support the assessment of an annual fee on an ongoing basis to increase fire protection and emergency medical staffing resulting in improved response times. The assessment of this fee will result in a reduction of the property tax levy by $705,584. A 'NO' vote would oppose the assessment of a fee, which would worsen response times due to the continued closures of fire and emergency medical stations. The results of the referendum are binding on the Common Council. A single-family home or residential condominium unit would constitute one (1) emergency service equivalent unit.

"Beginning with the December 2023 tax bill that funds the 2024 Budget, should the City of Delafield establish an annual fee on an ongoing basis for fire protection and emergency medical services of not more than $450.00 for each emergency service equivalent unit and an amount based on square footage for all non-residential parcels, and subject to annual adjustments determined by the Common Council?"

How is the town's referendum worded?

The town of Delafield referendum keeps the costs within the traditional tax levy, but asks voters to allow the town to exceed levy limits imposed statutorily by Wisconsin.

It reads: "Under state law, the increase in the levy of the Town of Delafield for the tax to be imposed for the next fiscal year, 2024, is limited to 1.314%, which results in a levy of $2,469,375. Shall the Town of Delafield be allowed to exceed this limit and increase the levy for the next fiscal year, 2024, for the purpose of retaining 7 full-time firefighter/paramedics and to hire 7 additional full-time staff for the Lake Country Fire and Rescue fire consortium that services the Town, by a total of 19.033%, which results in a levy of $2,939,375 and on an ongoing basis, include the increase of $470,000 for each fiscal year going forward?"

What led to these proposals?

The issue of paying more for fire services revolves around several factors, but fire officials have said the problem ultimately would require some financial assistance from the state, either through shared revenue or laws that allow communities to go above current levy limits to address fire services.

At the heart of that plea were certain facts, including that call times have increased 34% due to staffing shortages.

Without any promise outside funding, the LCFR Fire Board has proceeded with a $3 million, four-year plan to replace the department's current "fractured" paid-on-call model with more full-time firefighters, a more costly approach that also promises to reduce call response times.

Fire department staffing problems exist all throughout Waukesha County

The issue of suburban fire and rescue services, particularly on the western side of Waukesha County, has reverberated over the past decade. How the topic has been addressed varies.

Lake Country Fire & Rescue began pushing for financial changes in each of its jurisdictions last year, though not every community has taken the issue to voters thus far. Some have opted to deal with costs as an annual fee.

The Western Lakes Fire District, which likewise serves seven western Waukesha County communities, sought to double its budget through a referendum in August 2022. That measure failed in five communities (the towns of Merton, Oconomowoc, Ottawa and villages of Dousman and Summit) and passed in the city of Oconomowoc and village of Lac La Belle.

Voters in the town and village of Mukwonago, by contrast, voted to approve funding for six additional full-time firefighters in November 2022.

Certain communities have opted, or tried, to join neighboring fire departments. The Eagle Fire Department, serving both the village and town, merged with the village of North Prairie department to form the new Kettle Moraine Fire District on Jan. 1, 2022.

There will be upcoming information sessions about the referendums

Voters can learn more about the referendum and ask questions during upcoming informational sessions hosted by LCFR staff and local officials.

Info sessions will take place at the city of Delafield fire station, 115 Main Street, on:

• Sunday, March 26, 1 to 3 p.m.

• Tuesday, March 28, 6 to 8 p.m.

And at the town of Delafield fire station, W302 N 1208 Maple Ave., on:

• Saturday, March 25, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

• Wednesday, March 29, 6 to 8 p.m.

Quinn Clark contributed to this report.

Contact Jim Riccioli at (262) 446-6635 or james.riccioli@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @jariccioli.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Delafield voters to consider funding for Lake Country Fire & Rescue