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Weston trustees continue debate over fire fee as SAFER grant decision nears
Summary
Trustees spent more than an hour debating whether to seek a public referendum or implement an annual fire fee and how to respond to a potential SAFER grant that would add roughly nine firefighters over several years. No final funding decision was made; the board deferred further action into next month while staff monitors grant timing.
Trustees for the Village of Weston spent a lengthy portion of their meeting debating how to fund additional fire staffing if the town is offered a federal SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant and whether to ask voters to decide the question in a referendum.
The board heard that a SAFER award would cover about 65% of the upfront cost for the first two years and that the total program staffing and related costs are roughly $1,000,000; municipalities would need to cover the remaining 35% in the grant years and increasing shares in later years. A SAFER official present told the board, “The grant will cover 65% of the cost, and the cost is approximately $1,000,000,” and cautioned that an award decision could arrive within weeks.
Why it matters: Accepting a SAFER award without a sustainable local revenue plan could obligate the village to rising long-term costs once federal support tapers, while running a referendum would defer the decision to voters but likely miss the SAFER timeline. Board members repeatedly framed the choice as a tradeoff between speed (accept a grant and find local matching funds) and democratic input (a referendum to place the funding question on the tax roll).
Board discussion centered on three options: (1) accept the grant and identify local funding (including a potential annual fire fee), (2) pursue a spring referendum so voters decide whether to put the service on the tax roll, or (3) decline the grant and revisit funding later. Several trustees said they prefer a referendum, arguing voters should decide a new recurring tax; others, including staff, warned that the grant timetable and budget constraints make immediate acceptance the only realistic option if Weston wants the federal support.
Trustee discussion also reviewed the multi-year budget impact the grant would create: during grant years the two municipalities in the joint department would cover 35% of the cost; in later years municipalities would cover an increasing share (year 3 roughly 65%, then 100% thereafter). Staff reported other budget pressures — union wage steps and health insurance — that would increase the local share over time. A Trustee summarized the fiscal tradeoff: “If the referendum passes it, great; if it doesn't, then we still have to find another way to fund the department.”
Board direction and next steps: The board did not adopt a final funding plan. Trustees agreed to continue discussion at the next board meeting and asked staff to notify them immediately if the SAFER program issues an award so the board can call a special meeting within the 14-day acceptance window if needed. Several trustees said they want additional public outreach and education if the board pursues a fee or a referendum.
Context and background: Board members noted past choices shaped current constraints — the village used fund balance last year to smooth the operating budget and earlier decisions limited levy capacity. Trustees also discussed the administrative difference between a voter-approved property tax change and a fee placed on bills: a fee could be implemented more quickly but could reduce future levy capacity if applied to the tax roll later.
The board asked staff to prepare a plain-language explanation of the options for public sessions and to return with a clearer set of numbers and timeline at the next meeting.
