Wausau panel recommends April referendum after fire chief warns of staffing, safety and insurance risks

Wausau Committee of the Whole members on Nov. 3 recommended that the full Common Council place a referendum on the April 7, 2026 ballot asking voters to fund firefighter positions, after Fire Chief Jeremy Kopp detailed years of stagnant staffing, growing call volumes and operational risks.

Chief Kopp told the committee the department has relied on a hybrid cross-staffing model for decades that leaves engines and ambulances frequently under-crewed. “This isn't a job. This isn't a career. It's a calling,” Kopp said, describing how crews now perform more advanced medical care and entry operations than in past decades. He said the city is counting 68 positions toward daily staffing, and six apprentices are expected to become certified paramedics soon, bringing the target to 74 by Jan. 1, 2026.

The nut graf: council members said they needed voters’ direction because grant funding and federal SAFER grant timelines complicate long-term budgeting. The committee debated whether to ask residents to fund a portion or all of the recurring costs and discussed parallel contingency and revenue options if voters reject a levy increase.

Supporting details: Kopp said the department’s call volume has increased almost every year and that the city could exceed 7,000 calls this year, pulling personnel away from fire engines and increasing…