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Resident urges trustees to prioritize full funding for SAFER; board readies referendum Q&A sessions
Summary
At the Village of Weston board meeting a resident urged trustees to fully fund SAFER rather than rely on a referendum; finance staff and administrators explained borrowing constraints and outlined upcoming informational sessions and FAQs on the village website.
Jim Pencil, a resident who spoke during public comment, urged the Village of Weston Board of Trustees to prioritize full funding for the SAFER fire and EMS department instead of relying on temporary fixes or a referendum. "The department is being asked to do the impossible because they are severely understaffed," Pencil said, adding that a proposed $600,000 levy increase has no sunset and likely will not cover rising costs in future years.
The board's finance representative, identified in the meeting as Jessica from the finance office, responded that the village cannot borrow to fund additional firefighters and that the referendum is being considered because the general fund lacks operating revenue needed to staff services. "We need additional operating revenue and that is why we're looking at a referendum," Jessica said, noting public works and other high expenditures also put pressure on the town budget.
Administrator-level staff told trustees the village has held two informational presentations on the April referendum, posted FAQs and a direct link on the village website, and scheduled two open-house Q&A sessions for residents: March 31 from 4:30–6 p.m. and April 2 from 12–1:30 p.m., both in the village building. The sessions will allow residents to ask SAFER staff and village staff questions in a less formal format.
The meeting record shows trustees did not take formal action on the referendum at this session; staff emphasized the sessions are educational and that additional FAQs can be added to the web page at the board's request. The finance office clarified there are limits on what the village can fund through borrowing and that operating revenue constraints are driving the decision to seek voter input.
