Public Safety Referendum Approved by Voters on April 2, 2024
View the Formal Referendum Outcome Statement from Chief Vahsholtz Here
On Tuesday, April 2, 2024, the voters in the Town of Cedarburg approved a referendum that will allow the Town to exceed its state-imposed levy limit and increase funding for the Cedarburg Fire Department.
Town of Cedarburg: 63.65% Yes / 36.35% No
City of Cedarburg: 66.76% Yes / 33.24% No
Following the vote, Cedarburg Fire Department (CFD) Chief Jeff Vahsholtz issued the following statement:
Yesterday, in both the City and Town of Cedarburg, residents voted to support the public safety referendum and address increased demand for emergency services. This approval will increase funding for the Cedarburg Fire Department and enable CFD to add eight (8) additional Firefighter-Paramedic positions over the course of several years, maintain two (2) full-time Firefighter-Paramedic positions currently funded using ARPA dollars, and adjust the Fire Chief position to a full-time role.
The addition of these positions will ensure adequate staff is available at all times to respond to emergencies and improve care to a paramedic level. They will also address the increasing calls for service and ensure CFD has consistent, reliable leadership and personnel to manage the growing public safety needs in the City and Town of Cedarburg.
We are thankful to our Fire Department staff for their continued service to our community. We also want to thank the Cedarburg community for supporting our Fire Department. We are proud to serve our community members and are honored by your support.
Information Prior to the April 2, 2024 Election
View the Public Information Session Slide Deck Here
On Wednesday, Jan. 10, the Town Board authorized a referendum that, if approved, would allow the Town to exceed its state-imposed levy limit and increase funding for the Cedarburg Fire Department.
Learn More and Make an Informed Decision
Information sessions about the upcoming referendum were held at Ozaukee Pavilion (W67 N866 Washington Avenue) on the following days:
Tuesday, March 5 at 12:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 19 at 7:00 p.m.
A recording of the March 5 information session is available online, for those who did not attend themselves.
More information will be shared with residents through direct mail and social media in advance of the referendum on April 2, 2024.
In the meantime, if you have questions, please contact Fire Chief Jeff Vahsholtz at jvahsholtz@cityofcedarburg.wi.gov
Additional Funding will Address Increased Demand, Improve Emergency Response Reliability
If approved by referendum, additional funds would improve emergency response reliability and enable changes recommended by the Joint City and Town of Cedarburg Fire and EMS Committee, including funding to: (*This will be a 4-year phased in approach with final hires done in 2028)
- Add 8 additional full-time Firefighter-Paramedics;
- Maintain two (2) full-time Firefighter-Paramedics currently funded using ARPA dollars, which will run out in 2024.
- Adjust the Fire Chief position to a full-time role, helping ensure CFD has consistent leadership to manage the growing public safety needs in the City and Town of Cedarburg.
Additional full-time staff will bolster the Cedarburg Fire Department and ensure that qualified professionals are available at any time of the day or night to respond to emergencies.
The inclusion of additional Firefighter-Paramedics will increase the level of service the Department will be able to provide, boosting CFD from an AEMT-level agency to a Paramedic level. This will result in an increase in the number of emergency medical skills and medications available to support patients.
Property Tax Impact
The referendum will ask voters in the City and Town of Cedarburg whether or not they support the addition of $2,015,658 to the CFD annual operating budget. Based on the Department’s funding formula, the City’s portion of this additional budget would amount to approximately $1,292,302 and the Town’s portion would be approximately $723,356.
In the Town of Cedarburg, this would result in a property tax increase of approximately $57.08 per $100,000 in assessed property value (~$276 for a median home assessed at $485,000).
In the City of Cedarburg, this would result in a property tax increase of approximately $67.82 per $100,000 in assessed property value ($264.51 for a median home assessed at $390,000).
The referendum question will appear on the Tuesday, April 2, 2024 ballot as follows:
"Under state law, the increase in the levy of the Town of Cedarburg for the tax to be imposed for the next fiscal year, 2025, is limited to 1.153%, which results in a levy of $2,416,878. Shall the Town of Cedarburg be allowed to exceed this limit and increase the levy for the next fiscal year, 2025, for the purposes to increase funding to hire and retain additional fire and emergency medical services personnel for the Cedarburg Fire Department pursuant to an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Cedarburg for shared fire protection and emergency medical services, by a total of 29.929%, which results in a levy of $3,140,234, and on an ongoing basis, include the increase of $723,356 for each fiscal year going forward?"
Why Referendum?
In December, residents in the City and Town of Cedarburg received a survey designed to help municipal leaders determine the best path forward. Results indicate that 82% of respondents believe high-quality emergency medical and fire services are very important, and nearly 70% of respondents supported a property tax increase to bolster Fire Department funding.
Additional Information on Fire Department Website
More information will be shared with residents through direct mail, including in the Town newsletter, via social media and Town eNotify, and information sessions will be held in advance of the referendum on April 2, 2024. The Fire Department’s website will also be updated with additional resources: https://www.cedarburgfiredept.com/.
Citizen Survey on Potential Future Funding of Fire & EMS Services
In December, residents in the City and Town of Cedarburg received a survey designed to help municipal leaders determine the best path to addressing challenges at the Cedarburg Fire Department. Thank you to everyone who participated and voiced their recommendations. Learn more here.
NEWS RELEASE - February 13, 2024
PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION VIDEO (YouTube)
If you have questions, please contact Fire Chief Jeff Vahsholtz at jvahsholtz@cityofcedarburg.wi.gov.
Where Can I Find the Options Assessment?
The Options Assessment can be found on the Cedarburg Fire Department website: https://www.cedarburgfiredept.com/