Voters in the Village of Vernon overwhelmingly rejected a proposed $700,000 annual tax levy increase in the April 1, 2025, spring election, a measure aimed at sustaining and enhancing fire and emergency medical services (EMS) staffing. The Vernon Fire & EMS Referendum, which sought to exceed the state-imposed levy limit by 31.8%, would have raised the village’s annual levy from $2.2 million to $2.9 million starting in 2026.

Voters were asked: “Under state law, the increase in the levy of the Village of Vernon for the tax to be imposed for the next fiscal year, 2026 is limited to .887%, which results in a levy of $2,200,098. Shall the Village of Vernon be allowed to exceed this limit and increase the levy for the next fiscal year, 2026, for the purpose of recruiting and retaining Paramedics/EMT’s and firefighters to serve the Village of Vernon’s Fire Department by a total of 31.817%, which results in a levy of $2,900,098, and, on an ongoing basis, include the increase of $700,000 for each fiscal year going forward?”

Purpose of the Vernon Fire & EMS Referendum

The proposed levy increase was designed to tackle staffing shortages and rising call volumes within the Vernon Fire Department (VFD). According to a Spring 2025 newsletter from Village President Jeff Millies, the department operates with a part-time staffing model. VFD operates with five fire and EMS providers on duty 24/7 throughout the year. They claim this staffing level is critical to guarantee prompt responses to emergencies across the village’s 32.37 square miles. ​

Vernon Fire Department Challenges

In 2024, the Vernon Fire Department responded to 866 calls, with projections exceeding 1,000 calls for 2025. Vernon has a population of 7,456 residents, according to 2023 US Census Bureau Statistics.

According to Millies, the department’s part-time personnel earn between $11.78 per hour for entry-level firefighters and up to $25.00 per hour for captains. While the salary for the fire chief was not disclosed, it’s notable that the Vernon Fire Department employs four individuals in chief-level roles.

Vernon Fire & EMS Referendum: Community Response

The referendum’s failure reflects a broader trend observed across Wisconsin, where a majority of local spending referendums were unsuccessful during the spring election. Economic uncertainties and concerns over tax increases have contributed to voter hesitancy in approving such measures. Village of Vernon voters had this same hesitancy. And according to Vernon resident Bill Stock, it was not because they don’t support the fire department. Instead, according to Stock, “the numbers didn’t add up and the data was and in some cases, is still missing.”

“There is not a lot of transparency, and information resides in a lot of different places, and in a lot of different formats.” – Bill Stock

Another village resident, Donald Anderson, agreed with Stock. When asked about the four VFD Fire Chiefs, he said, “The main concern is ‘what do they do’?  All are salaried at 25 hours a week. They only respond to calls if they happen to be at the FD and are needed.”

Stock and Anderson are members of the Village of Vernon Task Force, a group of residents dedicated to gathering and sharing village information to help the community make informed decisions. Their website consolidates data from a variety of sources, including village financial reports, local news, and — specifically for the 2025 referendum — fire department comparisons with neighboring communities.

Their stance on the referendum was simple. “Voting “NO” for the referendum will not leave our citizens without help when they need it”. Instead, they argued, a failed referendum would push the Vernon Fire Department (VFD) to seek more efficient ways to manage manpower and resources without placing extra financial burden on residents.

Comparisons to Neighboring Villages

The 2025 failed referendum in the Village of Vernon draws sharp comparisons to its neighbors, Mukwonago and Waukesha, when it comes to fire department operations, budgets, and staffing.

Village of Vernon

Vernon, with about 7,600 residents, responded to 866 calls in 2024. The Vernon Fire Department operates with a small part-time staff, maintaining five personnel on duty 24/7. Their staffing includes four part-time chiefs (a Fire Chief, Deputy Chief of Fire, Deputy Chief of EMS, and an Assistant Chief) along with a rotating roster of part-time firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics. In 2025, VFD operated on a budget of $2,219,128. Had the referendum passed, it would have increased their funding to a level exceeding that of the larger and more populated Mukwonago.

Village of Mukwonago

In contrast, the Village of Mukwonago, which serves around 16,000 residents, reported 2,114 emergency calls in 2024. The Mukwonago Fire Department (MFD) is a hybrid department featuring seven full-time employees, including one Fire Chief, and one Assistant Chief. Additionally, they rely on approximately 46 paid-on-premise (POP) and paid-on-call (POC) personnel, who serve as firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics. Full-time staff cover 24-hour shifts, while POPs cover daytime hours, and POCs respond overnight. In November 2022, Mukwonago voters approved referendums to fund six new full-time firefighter/paramedics, after emergency calls rose 86% since 2000. The tax levy increases aimed to strengthen staffing and reduce reliance on part-time responders as the community continued to grow. In 2025, MFD operates on a $2,697,720 budget.

Village of Waukesha

The Village of Waukesha, with over 8,000 residents, operates under a different model. Their fire department includes a full-time fire chief, assistant chief, three part-time deputy chiefs, and around 40 paid-on-call firefighters. Although Waukesha hasn’t recently passed a referendum, their department faces mounting challenges due to outdated facilities. Leadership warns that the lack of proper sleeping quarters and locker rooms could threaten staffing and licensure in the future. The Waukesha Fire Department operates on a budget of $1,108,849 budget in 2025.

Vernon Fire & EMS Referendum Rejection: Next Steps

With the Vernon Fire & EMS Referendum rejection, the Village Board and VFD must reassess their strategies to tackle funding challenges. Potential options include reallocating existing resources, seeking different funding sources, or proposing a revised referendum in the future.

At an April 2025 Village of Vernon board meeting, trustees unanimously voted to assign $288,744 in remaining ARPA funds toward 2026 Vernon Fire Department wages. This decision seems to oppose statements made by Village Board President Jeff Millies. In the Spring 2025 Vernon View newsletter, he wrote, “In 2026, those funds will no longer be available.” When WCW asked Village Administrator Karen Schuh about the discrepancy, she stated she was unsure what Millies was referencing. She said she would follow up if more information became available. Schuh also committed to providing WCW with financial statements and ledgers to help clarify the village’s ARPA fund accounting.

For more information about the 2025 Vernon Fire & EMS Referendum and future initiatives, residents are encouraged to visit the Village of Vernon Task Force Website, Village of Vernon’s official website or contact the Village Administrator’s office.