MARSHFIELD, WI (WSAU) — Marshfield residents will find out on Tuesday if they will be voting on a $1.13 million public safety referendum which would allow the city’s police and fire/EMS departments to hire extra workers to help handle call volumes and records.
Mayor Lois TeStrake says the money would help bring on nine new firefighters/paramedics; three of those would be replacements for positions that were previously cut, and the other six would be new positions within the department. The referendum would also allow for the hiring of one police officer, another position that was previously cut due to budget issues, and a new full-time records specialist along with some part-time help in that department.
“We’re bundling this all together,” said TeStrake. “Because we have so many calls, this will help to alleviate the overtime for the firefighters/paramedics that are there, because they share the duties.”
TeStrake says the city’s EMS call volume has ballooned in recent years and the staffing simply hasn’t kept up. At times, all five of the department’s ambulances have been out on calls.
The city council will finalize the language of the question and vote to put the measure on the April 4th ballot during Tuesday’s meeting, which is the last day for referendum questions to be finalized for the ballot.
She says even with talk in Madison about additional shared revenue for cities and counties, they need to put the issue to voters as a matter of public safety. The timing also makes the issue critical, given that the April 4th election is the only general election this year.
“If it comes on the ballot and passes [this April,] it’ll be effective January 1st [2024.] That’s when it will actually happen. We need to do it now, for public safety,” said TeStrake.
Other topics Mayor TeStrake discussed with WSAU’s Mike Leischner include:
Start of video- election updates for April 4th
5:50- Ash tree removal in Braem Park
10:30- Public safety referendum
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