New Berlin officials are teeing up a pair of public information sessions in July as they weigh a possible public safety levy-limit referendum that could boost funding for police, fire and emergency medical services. The Common Council has not signed off on any ballot question yet, and city staff say the sessions are meant to walk residents through the numbers, field questions and gather feedback. Officials say the council could take formal action at a special meeting in August to decide whether a question lands on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
When the meetings happen and how to tune in
According to a Facebook post from the New Berlin Fire Department, public information sessions are set for July 13 and July 21 in the City Hall council chambers at 3805 S. Casper Drive. For residents who cannot make it to City Hall, both sessions are expected to be streamed online. The department’s post also directs residents to city materials so they can review reports and presentation slides before the meetings instead of trying to digest it all on the fly.
What staff say they need
At the May 26 Committee of the Whole and Common Council meetings, police, fire and finance staff outlined rising call volumes, operational pressures and potential staffing gaps they say are starting to pinch. A packet from the fire department on the city’s budget hub lists requests that include one division chief of training, three captain positions and 12 additional line personnel to support EMS and fire response, according to the New Berlin Fire Department.
Why a referendum is even on the table
City leaders say Wisconsin’s levy-limit rules cap how much property tax revenue can be raised through the standard budget process. Going beyond that limit typically requires voters to sign off. Statutory steps and timing for a local government that wants permission to exceed the levy cap are laid out by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue and related municipal guidance, which help explain why officials are already talking about a 2026 ballot.
What happens next
No referendum question has been adopted, but the Common Council has authorized staff to pull together preliminary information and a proposed timeline. According to the city’s public safety referendum materials, the council could vote on whether to place a question on the November 3 ballot at a special meeting currently expected on August 13. The city’s referendum hub hosts the draft schedule, presentation packets and links to the budget hub so residents can dig into the background documents before the July sessions, according to the City of New Berlin.
Fire Chief Mark Polzin said the department has seen growing EMS demand in recent years and that those pressures have led to staffing and operational challenges. He added that department leadership is “committed to maintaining reliable public safety services while continuing to be responsible stewards of taxpayer resources,” according to the department’s outreach and the New Berlin Fire Department.
Residents who want to follow the process can track the city’s referendum hub, read the department’s presentation packet and watch the July sessions online. The city says it will post updates as the review moves forward. Community members can also raise questions during Privilege of the Floor at council meetings or submit comments through the city’s engagement channels before any formal vote on a referendum question.
