Weston Municipal Center. MWC photo by Mike Leischner
WESTON, WI (WSAU) — Another Central Wisconsin community will consider a public safety referendum in April.
Trustees in Weston approved a $600,000 question on Monday, which Village Administrator Jami Gebert says would add six full-time firefighter/paramedic positions to SAFER.
Ballot language for the referendum is as follows:
Shall the Village of Weston be allowed to exceed this limit and increase the levy for the next fiscal year, 2027, for the purpose of paying the Village of Weston’s share of the cost for SAFER to hire and retain six additional full-time firefighters/paramedics, by a total of 10%, which results in a levy of $6,507,763 and on an ongoing basis, include the increase of $600,000 for each fiscal year going forward?
SAFER, which is a shared department with the Village of Rib Mountain, has long been looking for additional funding sources. Last summer, Weston considered a “fire fee,” which would have been added to property tax bills based on the square footage of their buildings. That plan was put on hold in August amid public backlash.
Gebert says they plan to share more information with residents online and through public information sessions before the April 7, 2026, election. More information will be available on the Village’s website, www.westonwi.gov, in the coming weeks, and shared through the Village’s social media and weekly e-newsletter.
Earlier this month, alders in Wausau also approved a public safety referendum for the April ballot.
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