On November 3, 2026, voters in the Town of Hudson will be asked whether they support a permanent $492,612 increase in the property tax levy to fund the Town’s portion of an expansion to the Hudson Fire Department to include 9 full-time firefighters that will reside at the fire station when on duty.
This requested increase equates to a property tax increase of $23.43 per $100K of equalized property valuation, or approximately $94 for a $400K home.
We are writing to you today to provide background information, explanation of the reasons for, and the impact of Yes and No votes for this Public Safety Levy Override Referendum Question.
Background:
In 2020, the Town of Hudson, along with the Village of North Hudson and the Town of Troy, contracted with the City of Hudson to purchase Emergency Services for a period of 20 years. These services, provided by the Hudson Fire Department, include fire protection, search and rescue and emergency response and assistance.\
Under this contract, each of the partners pays a prorated share of the HFD expenses at the level the City of Hudson determines is necessary to deliver the required emergency services to the community. The share each community pays is based 50% on equalized property valuation and 50% on historical call volumes for the last 5 years. For the Town of Hudson, our share is just under 24% of the total cost.
Reason for the Referendum:
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.
The City of Hudson and the Hudson Fire Department have identified a need to improve response times and enhance emergency services. As the community has grown, response times for emergency services have also grown to an average of nearly 17 minutes from dispatch to arrival at an incident.
Currently, the Department relies 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. Adding full-time firefighters who can work in the station 24/7 will ensure a reliable force is available to provide emergency services and response times are expected to be up to 8 minutes faster.
The City is also asking their voters to approve a referendum to fund their share of the potential addition of full-time firefighters. If the City voters pass their referendum, the Town of Hudson, Village of North Hudson and Town of Troy will be obligated to pay their share of the increased HFD costs. To be clear, per our contract with the City of Hudson, the Town would have no choice but to pay the increased costs.
The Town of Hudson operates on a fairly tight budget and we do not have the capacity to absorb these added costs. The Town board has carefully considered options for funding (including grants, borrowing, other budget cuts, starting our own fire department, implementing an annual fire protection fee in lieu of levy and a levy increase). In the end, in order to maintain current service levels across the town (parks, road maintenance, winter plowing, town hall office hours, IT, etc.) and ensure the lowest ongoing operational cost possible (given the required expenditures) we have determined that seeking voter approval for a levy increase is the best choice.
Impact of a YES vote:
If the referendum is approved by a majority of voters, the Town would be allowed to permanently increase its property tax levy by up to $492,612, starting with bills issued in December 2026. This funding would be directed solely to the Fire Department to cover the Town’s portion of 9 additional full-time firefighters.
Per $100,000 in equalized property value, the property tax impact is estimated at $23.43 per year. For example, a home with an equalized property value of $400,000, is estimated to see a property tax increase of $94 per year. On a percentage basis, this is 2.43% of the total estimated property tax bill for 2027.
Impact of a NO vote:
If the referendum is rejected by Town voters, but approved by City voters, the Town remains contractually obligated to pay its share. Without levy authority, the Town would be forced to use borrowing and make significant cuts to other local services (such as parks and road maintenance) to fulfill this legal obligation.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If the City of Hudson voters reject their referendum and the Town voters give their approval, the Town WILL NOT increase the levy until such time as the City does add full-time firefighters.
To review the text of the referendum questions, please visit https://townofhudsonwi.com/emergency-services-referendum/
New information may be added to the town website. Please sign up to receive notifications from the town at https://townofhudsonwi.com/subscribe-to-updates
It is a great honor to serve the Town of Hudson community and all of us are happy to hear from you with your comments or questions:
Robert Fowler, [email protected], (715) 220-2984
Dan Fosterling, [email protected], (612) 961-4507
Susan Blank, [email protected], (715) 386-6539
David Bartizal, [email protected], (651) 334-3049
Don Jordan, [email protected], (612) 418-2422
Please also feel free to contact the town staff with questions:
Amanda Duncanson, [email protected], (715) 386-4263
John Kromer, [email protected], (715) 386-4263
This is how the question will appear on the ballot on November 3, 2026:
Town of Hudson Tax Levy for Emergency Services Referendum
Under state law, the increase in the levy of the Town of Hudson for the tax to be imposed for the next fiscal year, 2027, is limited to 1.079%, which results in a levy of $1,314,542. Shall the Town of Hudson be allowed to exceed this limit and increase the levy for the next fiscal year, 2027, for the purpose of paying the increased costs of emergency services imposed by our contract with the City of Hudson, which has decided to add 9 full time firefighters and other associated expenses to reduce response times and provide improved emergency services, by a total of 37.474%, which results in a levy of $1,807,154, and on an ongoing basis, include the increase of $492,612 for each fiscal year going forward?
-yes
-no
Emergency Services Referendum FAQ
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.
Q: Would the Town increase the tax levy by $492,612 every year?
No. If approved by referendum, the Town would be able to permanently increase its property tax levy by $492,612, 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 Town’s budget?
No. If approved via referendum, state law requires the Town to allocate 100% of the additional funds to paying the increased emergency services contract with the City of Hudson.
Q: Why $492,612? How was that amount determined?
Based on budget estimates, funding 9 additional full-time firefighters would add approximately $2.3 million per year in additional costs, including compensation, training, and capital equipment to the Hudson Fire Department budget.
The Town of Hudson would be responsible for annual additional cost averaging $492,612 per year for the next 10-years, with the City of Hudson, Village of North Hudson and Town of Troy providing the remainder of funding.
Q: I heard the referendum is for $1.29 million. Why?
The City of Hudson is also asking their residents to approve a levy for the Hudson Fire Department and the amount of their levy increase is $1.29 million. The Town of Hudson is separate from the City and needs to approve it’s own funding and tax levy.
Q: What happens if the City passes their referendum and the Town does not?
The Town will still be obligated to pay the increased emergency service costs through at least 2040. Budget cuts in other areas will be required to keep a balanced budget.
Q: What happens if the City rejects their referendum and the Town is approved
The City would not add full-time staff and there will be no increase to the Fire Department budget. The Town would not levy the additional tax until such time that the City does add full-time firefighters, if ever.
Q: Why doesn’t the Town just terminate the contract with the City and start our own fire department?
The town has a contract with the City that runs through 2040. In addition, this is not practical in the short term and would require large capital expenditures, borrowing and debt levy increases to fund a building and purchase equipment. Between now and 2040, they Town will consider long term strategic plans for emergency services and weigh the pros and cons of implementing our own fire department as well as other options.
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: 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, and 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: Will a remodel of the Fire Station be needed 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.