WC Wisconsin News

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers is seeking to rid the state of an age-old problem with a simple allocation in his new state budget.

Evers recently announced that he has earmarked a more than $100 million increase for local communities struggling to fund essential services.   

“For years, communities have been forced to do more with less,” he tweeted. “My next budget will include a more than $100 million increase in direct support for local communities to help afford essential local services like EMS, fire, and public safety.”

The plan calls for the funds to go to several communities across the state, with the move meant to assure that such emergency services as fire departments, EMS and other services are safeguarded; WPR reported. The proposed changes come as communities across the state are in the process of raising taxes or referendums to fund such services.

Nowhere has the financial squeeze been felt more than in rural areas, where the volunteer firefighter model has proven easier to fund—although the number of such units has dwindled over the past two decades. Hard-pressed areas have been unable to cover the cost of full-time paid positions, prompting some to go as far as suggesting that households be required to pay a subscription fee for emergency services.

In the city of Whitewater, government leaders are now asking residents to pass a $1.1 million referendum next month that would pave the way for the City to be able to hire a full-time staff of 17 fire and EMS department workers.

In all, at least 20 other communities across the state are also seeking to raise taxes this election season as part of a plan to be able to fund such services.