STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU-WAOW) – City leaders in Stevens Point are asking for an increase in the city’s tax levy so they can hire more firefighters. The issue will be decided by voters this fall. The referendum would be north of $900,000.
Jean Watkins is a resident of Stevens Point, one of thousands who would see an increase in her taxes if the referendum passed, but city leaders say that it would only cost each taxpayer $42 for every $100,000 of their home’s value.
Watkins says she’s in support of the referendum, because it will help the fire department continue to do what they do best. She said, “Because it seems that there’s a need, and I agree with providing these service, and I think they have to be paid for. ”
If it passes, Moody says that they would be able to hire nine new firefighters, and the goal would be to place three on each shift. Mayor Mike Wiza said it would go a long way to keep the community safe.
Wiza said, “You have to have someone who runs the truck, someone who oversees the operation, someone and a partner to go up on the roof and vent, someone and a partner go in, so at the very least, you need four or five people before you can start addressing the fire.” Wiza and Moody both said that if residents vote yes, they would start getting to work on hiring those firefighters, and getting them on the streets by the middle of 2025.
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