Wausau committee recommends referendum after fire chief warns staffing shortfalls threaten response capacity

The City of Wausau Committee of the Whole voted Tuesday to recommend that the common council place a referendum on the April 7, 2026 ballot to help fund firefighter staffing, following a presentation from Fire Chief Jeremy Kopp that described growing calls for service and operational strains tied to stagnant staffing.

Chief Kopp told the committee the department has operated with roughly the same staffing model for more than five decades while its workload and responsibilities have increased, and that cross-staffing ambulances and engines frequently leaves apparatus short at critical moments. "When the alarm sounds, our firefighters don't hesitate," he said, adding that limited staffing can force single firefighters to perform tasks that normally require teams.

The recommendation follows Kopp's description of recent recruitment efforts and a FEMA SAFER grant awarded in 2022 that funded additional positions. Kopp said six apprentices are expected to complete paramedic certification in the coming weeks and count toward daily staffing beginning Jan. 1, 2026. He told the committee call volume is climbing and the department expects to exceed 7,000 calls this year.

Why it matters: Committee members said they wanted voters to decide whether to dedicate ongoing local revenue to retain the SAFER-funded positions once federal grant funding ends in early 2026. Council members and public speakers stressed public safety risks if staffing falls; others warned voters are resistant to new taxes and urged the council to seek internal savings as part of a contingency plan.

Key facts - Chief Jeremy Kopp described cross-staffing that can leave engines or ambulances uncrewed when other units are committed. - The department projects more than 7,000 calls for service this year and reported growing time on scene for both fire and EMS events. - Kopp said the SAFER grant began in 2022 and that the city expects the grant to expire in early 2026; the department has used apprentices and targeted hiring to reach a headcount goal of 74 when apprentices are certified. - Council discussion cited recent overtime totals presented during the meeting (2024 overtime about $493,000; 2025 year-to-date through September approximately $364,694), and the potential insurance and fiscal impacts of an ISO rating change.

Council action and next steps - The committee voted to recommend that the common council pursue a referendum on April 7, 2026. The motion was made by Alder Larson and seconded by Alder Watson; it passed on a voice vote with no recorded opposition. - The committee also voted to recommend that the common council retain Miller Communications to develop neutral educational outreach about the referendum. That recommendation was amended on the floor to reduce the scope (one mailed piece rather than two) and passed on a roll-call vote, 5-4. The committee's recommendations go to the full common council for final action and for formal ballot-language drafting.

Council and staff remarks - Kathy Strawser, president of Wausau's Police and Fire Commission, urged the council to "come together to make the hard choices that keep Wausau safe, strong and financially stable." - Chief Jeremy Kopp said the department has become busier and more complex: "We're doing more in the back of an ambulance and on scene than we ever have." - James Madeline of Miller Communications said the firm's proposed materials would be educational and neutral: "All of our work done on behalf of municipalities [is] focused on education, no advocacy." - The mayor urged council to pursue internal savings where possible and presented a list of potential cuts that he said could permanently fund a subset of positions while the referendum process proceeds.

Context and options discussed Council members debated strategy. Some said referendum outreach should be independent and neutral to preserve public trust; others said staff could prepare factual materials. Options for reducing city expenditures or generating new revenues were discussed during the meeting, including service fees, contract changes with partner municipalities, and possible organizational adjustments, but no final decisions on those contingencies were made.

Ending The committee's two recommendations will go to the common council for a final decision on whether to place a referendum question on the April 7, 2026 ballot and whether to hire Miller Communications under the reduced scope. The committee adjourned after the votes and thanked firefighters for attending.