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Administration committee advances IGA to form joint fire department; staff cites $38.6 million combined cost and state grant support
Summary
The Administration Committee advanced an intergovernmental agreement to form a joint fire department, with staff presenting revised proportional-cost language, flexibility on professional-service assignments and finance estimates: $38.6 million combined cost in 2025 and an estimated $4.86 million in state grant funds to the city over five years. The committee approved the resolution and discussed transition timing.
The West Allis Administration Committee reviewed and approved a resolution to enter into an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) to establish a joint fire department between the city and a partner volunteer department.
City staff described four substantive changes to the IGA draft: expanded proportional-cost language to address pre-merger costs and future responsibilities, removal of specifically assigned professional-service duties to allow flexibility as personnel change, language requiring community approval for third‑party service contracts the joint department might enter, and insertion of preliminary finance numbers. Staff said the combined cost to the two communities was approximately $38.6 million for 2025 and that an approved state grant would be applied proportionately; the city is expected to receive about $4.86 million over five years and approximately $24.3 million was discussed in the presentation as a city-related figure.
Staff indicated the formal operational date for the joint department and an employee transition under a staffing agreement would target April 27 (staffing/implementation timing discussed), with a period of transition before full employee changes take effect. Committee members thanked staff for their collaboration; a motion to approve the resolution was made and carried by the committee.
What this means: approval by the committee advances the IGA to follow-up administrative steps, including final signatures, staffing agreements and finance implementation work. Staff and elected members flagged the need to finalize proportional-cost calculations and to ensure any third-party contracts are reviewed by both communities before implementation.
