Public Safety Referendum Given Approval In Landslide

The past few months featured representatives of the Fond du Lac Fire Rescue and the Fond du Lac Police Department making numerous presentations on air, online and in person to the residents of the city of Fond du Lac. Those presentations focused on why there was a critical need for additional staff for both departments.

On Tuesday night, residents in the City of Fond du Lac voted overwhelmingly in favor of the Public Safety Referendum, 5,085-2,355.

The referendum was asking for approval or denial from residents to increase the levy of the City of Fond du Lac. Under State Law the increase for the tax to be imposed for the next fiscal year, 2022, is limited to 2.75%, which results in a levy of $28,577,487. The approval of the referendum would allow employing and equipping six (6) additional full-time Firefighter/Paramedics and six (6) additional full-time Police Officers by a total of 4.69%, which results in a levy of $29,880,774 and on an ongoing basis, include the increase of $1,303,287 for each fiscal year going forward.

Early indicators showed residents somewhat mixed in their support of the referendum, with a number of residents asking why the it was not split into two questions, one for Fire Rescue and one for the Police Department.

The referendum is set to take effect in 2022.