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Weston board discusses possible spring referendum to fund SAFER fire-staff additions; coordination with partners required
Summary
Trustees discussed asking voters to exceed state levy limits to fund additional SAFER fire staffing (three positions phased in). Board emphasized the need to coordinate with partner jurisdictions (Rib Mountain/SAFER board), left timing flexible and scheduled follow-up special/joint meetings.
The board discussed whether to place a referendum on the spring ballot asking voters to exceed Wisconsin levy limits to fund additional public-safety staffing through the SAFER partnership.
Village administrator (S11) said the SAFER board and partners (including Rib Mountain) should be aligned on the staffing ask before Weston finalizes the referendum question. The proposal discussed would add three staff this year with additional hires in subsequent years; trustees noted Weston comprises roughly 68% of the partnership and emphasized coordinating funding and deployment with partner communities.
Trustees debated narrowing the referendum question to fire-only staffing (which the board could describe with a tangible staffing ask) versus a broader "public safety" question that could include police. Trustee S14 warned that a broader question risks muddling the message to voters; others said timing and partner consensus matter. Staff noted Rib Mountain had scheduled a special meeting for Dec. 1 and SAFER may meet shortly after, which could allow a joint schedule to meet a January/February deadline for referendum formulation.
Outcome: no final action was taken; trustees left the conversation open, asked staff to coordinate with SAFER and partner boards, and planned potential special/joint meetings to finalize any referendum language.
