Emergency Services Improvements

November Referendum Requests Funding for Full-Time Firefighters

 

The City of Hudson and the Hudson Fire Department have identified a need to improve response times and enhance emergency services.

 

On November 3, 2026, voters in the City of Hudson will be asked whether they support a permanent $1.29 million increase in the property tax levy to fund the City’s portion of 9 additional full-time firefighters.

 

By adding full-time firefighters who can work in the station 24/7, emergency responses could be up to 8 minutes faster.

 

Currently, response times average nearly 17 minutes. The Department relies primarily on volunteer (also known as “paid-on-call”) staff who do not work in the fire station. They must travel from home, work or elsewhere to the fire station before heading to an incident.

 

Full-time staff are needed to improve service delivery and ensure a reliable force is available to provide emergency services when calls come in.

 

How the Question will Appear on the November Ballot

 

On the ballot, the referendum question will appear as follows:

 

“Under state law, the increase in the levy of the City of Hudson for the tax to be imposed for the next fiscal year, 2027, is limited to 0.872%, which results in a levy of $13,335,657. Shall the City of Hudson be allowed to exceed this limit and increase the levy for the next fiscal year, 2027, for the purpose of improving emergency services with 9 additional full-time fire staff and ongoing Hudson Fire Department expenses, by a total of 9.698%, which results in a levy of $14,628,943 and on an ongoing basis, include the increase of $1,293,285.68 for each fiscal year going forward?”

 

If a Majority Vote “Yes”

 

If the referendum is approved by a majority of voters, the City would be able to permanently increase its property tax levy by approximately $1.29 million, starting with bills issued in December 2026. This funding would be directed to the Fire Department to cover the City’s portion of 9 additional full-time firefighters.

 

The average Hudson home, assessed at $500,000, is estimated to see a property tax increase of approximately $186.70 ($15.56 per month). Per $100,000 in assessed property value, the property tax impact is estimated at $37.34 ($3.11 per month).

 

If a Majority Vote “No”

 

If the referendum is rejected by a majority of voters, the City would not be able to increase the property tax levy and would not be able to fund additional full-time firefighters.

 

The Hudson Fire Department would continue to rely on a decreasing number of paid-on-call or volunteer personnel as the primary response force, despite increasing community needs (call volume has gone up 62% since 2015, and is expected to increase further) and lengthy response times that exceed national benchmarks.

 

City to Host Public Information Sessions

 

The City will host three public information sessions at the Hudson Fire Station (2121 Ward Ave., Hudson, WI 54016) for residents to learn more about the referendum and ask questions.

 

Info sessions will be held on the following dates:

• Thursday, September 17 at 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, October 6 at 12 p.m.

• Thursday, October 29 at 7 p.m.

 

Additional information will be shared online, through mailers sent to each household, on social media, and via local news.

 

Ways to Vote

 

Information about voting in the City of Hudson (including in-person early voting, voting by absentee ballots or voting on Election Day, Nov. 3, 2026)  can be found on the City’s website here.

 

Questions & Answers

The following are answers to frequently asked questions about the City of Hudson’s November 2026 referendum requesting funding to support 9 additional full-time firefighters at the Hudson Fire Department.

 

Q: How will 9 additional full-time staff improve service delivery?

Adding full-time staff who can work in the station 24/7 will mean Hudson firefighters are ready to respond to an incident at all times. This staffing approach will  reduce response times by up to 8 minutes per call and improve the Hudson Fire Department’s ability to meet the community’s growing demand for emergency services.

 

Q: Why 9 full-time firefighters?

By adding 9 full-time firefighters, Hudson can staff three shifts with 3 firefighters each – the minimum staffing necessary to respond to calls for service.

 

Q: What will happen to the paid-on-call staff if a referendum is approved?

The Hudson Fire Department is grateful to the volunteers / paid-on-call staff who help keep our communities safe. Paid-on-call firefighters would remain an important part of the department and would be called in to:

• Support larger fires and major emergencies

• Respond to multiple calls happening at the same time

• Assist during storms, special events, or extended incidents

 

This hybrid model reflects how many comparable communities have adapted to growing demand and declining volunteer availability. It balances public safety, cost control, and long-term sustainability by ensuring a dependable core response while retaining flexibility and community involvement.

 

Q: When does the City plan to hire additional staff?

The Fire Department would seek to hire all 9 full-time firefighters as soon as possible, with a goal to begin 24/7 coverage starting in mid 2027.

 

Q: Will additional staff mean the Hudson Fire Department offers additional emergency medical services and ambulance transports?

The Hudson community has experienced an increased need for emergency medical services in recent years. While the City funds a contract with Lakeview EMS to provide these services, the Hudson Fire Department will continue to assist Lakeview EMS as necessary.

 

HFD does not intend to take on new or expanded emergency medical responsibilities and is not seeking to add an ambulance to the department.

 

Q: Will we need to remodel the Fire Station to accommodate the full-time staff?

No. The Hudson Fire Department is not seeking to make changes to its new station, which was completed in June 2020. The fire station was designed to support future full-time, in-station staff. It includes sleep rooms, laundry and storage, as well as a day room and kitchen.

 

Q: Why do we need a referendum to raise the tax levy limit?

State of Wisconsin statutes limit the amount of property taxes a municipality can collect each year to the percentage increase in equalized value from net new construction. In order to exceed that levy limit, the municipality needs voter approval through a citywide referendum.

 

Q: Would the City increase the tax levy by $1.29 million every year?

No. If approved by referendum, the City would be able to permanently increase its property tax levy by $1.29 million, starting with the 2027 budget and tax bills issued in December 2026. This establishes a new baseline for the property tax levy.

 

Q: Can funds approved via referendum be used elsewhere in the City’s budget?

No. If approved via referendum, state law requires the City to allocate the additional $1.29 million in property tax revenue to staffing and operations for the Hudson Fire Department – as outlined in the question on the ballot. Funds approved to fund fire operations cannot be used on other services.

 

Q: Why $1.29 million? How was that amount determined?

Based on preliminary estimates, funding 9 additional full-time firefighters would cost approximately an additional $2.3 million per year. This includes all anticipated operational costs – compensation, training, and equipment.

 

The City of Hudson is responsible for approximately 54% of Hudson Fire Department operating costs, with the Village of North Hudson, Town of Hudson and Town of Troy providing the remainder of funding. Based on this funding split, the City of Hudson’s additional annual costs for Fire Department services would be approximately $1.29 million.

 

Q: Are neighboring communities also going to referendum to fund their portion of the additional full-time staff?

Established in 1873, the City of Hudson’s Fire Department (HFD) provides fire protection and emergency services in the City. HFD is also under contract to serve the Village of North Hudson, the Town of Hudson, and approximately 90% of the Town of Troy, beginning in January 2027.

 

Costs are divided among the communities according to a funding formula that factors in things like population and equalized value. If City voters approve a referendum to cover its portion of the 9 additional full-time firefighters, the costs to partnering communities will continue to be divided proportionately. All communities will go through their own annual budgeting process to determine how best to cover their costs.

 

Leaders from the City and the Fire Department have actively engaged with partner communities about the need for additional full-time staff and the potential for increased costs. In fact, HFD scaled back its initial request, in part based on discussions with neighbors. Rather than moving forward with the original plan of adding 12 full-time firefighters, the ask is now for 9.

 

Q: Is this happening elsewhere in Wisconsin?

Hudson is not alone in facing public safety staffing and funding challenges. In recent years, many Wisconsin communities have faced similar pressures and have pursued property tax levy increases through referendum to address public safety needs.

 

If you have a question, contact Hudson City Administrator Brentt Michalek at bmichalek@hudsonwi.gov or Fire Chief Drew Spielman at dspielman@hudsonwi.gov

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