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Williams Bay police outline $399,980 referendum to add two officers
Summary
Chief Tim told the Williams Bay School Board that a public safety referendum would ask voters for $399,980 to fund two full-time officers, estimating the cost would be about $100.40 a year for a $400,000 home; the department cited a 20% rise in core calls for service since 2019.
Chief Tim presented the Village of Williams Bay Police Department’s case for a local public safety referendum to the school board on March 10, saying core calls for service have risen roughly 20% since a 2019 staffing study and that the department is short on coverage.
"We are asking for a total of $399,980," Chief Tim said, describing the proposed ballot question and how the money would be used to fund two full-time officers. "For a $400,000 home, that's going to cost roughly $100.40 a year." He said the funding would cover wages, benefits, and equipment such as vests, uniforms and body-worn cameras.
The chief and department presenters summarized options the department considered after the 2019 study showed the force was "two and a half officers down," including overtime, reliance on county coverage, and hiring part‑time staff. The presenters said the department has seen a decline in available part‑time officers and higher turnover, and that some calls — including mental‑health and in‑depth investigations — now require more staff time.
Chief Tim said the department included a 40% growth factor in the referendum request to offset anticipated cost increases over the term of the measure so that village general funds would not be additional backstops later. He said passage would let the department return to more proactive patrol and community engagement; failure, he said, would force a more reactive posture.
Board members asked detailed questions. Chief Tim said the staffing study was conducted by resident consultant Richard Tuma and that, if approved by voters, the board would be asked to begin hiring in the fall so officers could be onboard by Jan. 1, 2026. He described scheduling priorities for the new positions — targeting higher call‑volume hours to reduce gaps and improve officer safety.
The chief announced there would be another informational hearing on March 26 at the Lions Field House, in‑person absentee voting March 24–27, and that election‑day polling at Lions Field House would run 7 a.m.–8 p.m. He encouraged residents with questions to contact the department and said details would be posted on the village website.
Why it matters: A successful referendum would add two full‑time officers and related operating costs to local property tax bills and change how the department schedules patrol hours. The board held the session for informational purposes; no board action on the referendum was taken during the meeting.
Next steps: The department will hold the March 26 hearing; the referendum will appear on the village ballot with in‑person and absentee voting windows as announced.
