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Frequently Asked Questions

Fire/EMS Referendum

Village of Rochester Fire & EMS Referendum FAQ

 

 

August 11, 2026 Referendum Election

The Village of Rochester is asking residents to consider a referendum related to funding Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) at current service levels. Below are answers to common questions about the referendum.

 

 

What is the Fire & EMS Referendum?

The referendum asks voters whether the Village should be allowed to exceed the State-imposed property tax levy limit by $140,000 on an ongoing basis to continue funding fire protection and EMS at current levels.

 

 

Why is the referendum being proposed?

Village officials have determined that current fire and EMS service levels cannot be sustained without additional revenue or reductions in other services.

Key contributing factors:

  • Property tax levy limits
  • Rising personnel costs
  • Increased training and operational expenses
  • New State-mandated EMS provider fees
  • Declining rescue revenues

 

 

What is driving the increase in costs?

Staffing Changes

Like many volunteer departments nationwide, RVFC (the Rochester Volunteer Fire Company) has experienced:

  • Declining volunteer participation
  • Increased certification requirements
  • Higher 911 call volume

To maintain service, RVFC began adding paid daytime staff in 2010. As a result, the compensation budget increased from $12,800 (2010) to $282,580 (2026).

State EMS Fees

Beginning in 2025, new state EMS provider fees added approximately $25,000 annually in administrative costs.

 

 

How have revenues changed?

  • Since 2020, annual rescue revenues have declined by $18,000
  • Property tax levy increases have averaged only about $13,963 per year, which must be shared across all Village services

 

 

Why can’t the Village stay within current tax limits?

Between 2020-2026:

  • Property tax levy growth has averaged +1.72% annually (~$14,000)
  • Inflation rates (CPI) have averaged +3.98% annually
  • Fire and EMS cost increases have averaged +10.81% annually (~$27,000)

At the same time, the Village must fund many other services, including:

  • Street maintenance and snowplowing
  • Parks and library services
  • Building maintenance and insurance
  • Administration and other public safety functions

 

 

Is this due to a budget deficit?

Yes. Over time, RVFC Fire & EMS fund balances have significantly declined:

  • Fire Protection Fund: $87,890 (2016) → $6,359 (2025)
  • EMS Fund: $94,264 → -$10,760

The fire company has relied on reserves and fundraising to cover ongoing losses.

 

 

Has the Village already used reserves?

Yes.

  • A $101,000 increase in taxpayer support was needed for the 2026 budget
  • This was made possible by drawing down reserves

For 2027, an additional $39,000 is projected to balance the budget. Officials note that continued reliance on reserves is not sustainable.

 

 

What will appear on the ballot?

Voters will be asked whether to allow the Village to exceed levy limits by $140,000 (10.302%) beginning in 2027 and on an ongoing basis to fund Fire & EMS services.

 

 

What happens if voters approve (“YES”)?

A “YES” vote would:

  • Increase the property tax levy by $140,000 permanently
  • Maintain current Fire & EMS staffing:
    • 1 full-time Fire Chief
    • 1 full-time Paramedic
    • Part-time daytime staff (Mon–Fri, 8 AM–4 PM)
    • Continued volunteer coverage at other times

 

 

What would it cost taxpayers?

Estimated annual impact:

  • $23.09 per $100,000 of assessed value
  • Example: $400,000 home = $92.36 per year

(Actual amounts may vary slightly.)

 

 

What happens if voters reject (“NO”)?

A “NO” vote means the Village must stay within current limits, which may require:

  • Reduced Fire/EMS service levels
  • Cuts to other municipal services
  • Continued (unsustainable) reserve use
  • Possible new fees or fee increases

 

 

How would the funds be used?

Funds would be used only for Fire & EMS operations, including:

  • Staffing and wages
  • Training and certification
  • Equipment and daily operations
  • Emergency response services

Note: Major equipment purchases (e.g., fire trucks) are funded separately.

 

 

 Is this a one-time increase?

No. This is an ongoing increase beginning in 2027 to provide stable funding

 

 

Is this a permanents solution?

No. The funding is expected to stabilize operations for about five years.

During that time, the Village plans to explore cost-saving measures, including:

  • Transitioning the Fire Company into a Village department
  • Potentially eliminating state EMS fees and reducing administrative costs

 

 

How can I learn more?

  • Residents are encouraged to:
  • Attend Village Board meetings
  • Review Village newsletters and website updates
  • Watch for informational mailings
  • Follow official Village and Fire Company communications
  • CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION

 

 

Election Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2026

Polling Location: Village Hall 300 W. Spring St.

Poll Hours: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM

For absentee or early voting options, visit: myvote.wi.gov

Betty Novy: [email protected]

Election Questions

There are several ways to register to vote. You can visit MyVote to register online or update your existing registration. Otherwise, you can submit your completed voter registration form to the Clerk's office at Village Hall. Bring an ID and proof of residence with you. You may also register at the polls on Election Day.

If your driver's license lists your current address in the Village of Rochester, that will serve as proof of residence. Otherwise, you can use a current utility bill, bank statement, pay stub, or a state-issued license which displays both your name and your address in the Village of Rochester.

All Rochester residents vote at the Village Hall, 300 W. Spring Street, Rochester, Wisconsin 53167

Animal Ownership

The maximum number of adult cats and or dogs per household is four, but no more than three can be adult dogs. To exceed this limit, you must obtain a kennel license. The limitation on cats can be exceeded on agriculturally zoned properties with minimum of three acres when more than four cats are kept for the purpose of rodent control.

Dogs must be licensed annually by January 31st. Proof of current rabies vaccination is required. Cat licenses are not required, but all cats must be vaccinated for rabies.

You must own a property more than three acres in size. You must also submit an application for review and approval by the Village Board.

On agriculturally zoned properties more than five acres in size, there is no restriction. For any property less than five acres in size, a special exception permit is required.

On agriculturally zoned properties more than five acres in size, there is no limitation. To keep horses on a property less than five acres in size, you must obtain a special exemption permit.

Building Questions

The Building Inspector, Lee Greivell, is available at (262) 424-6957 or by email at [email protected]

Any new structures must obtain a zoning permit before a building permit. Contact Matt Rademacher, Assistant Administrator/Zoning Administrator, at (262) 534-1183 or by email at [email protected].

Yes. Permit applications are available under Forms and Permits.

Fences and walls are allowed in residential districts in street, side, and rear yards. Permits are not required for residential fences, but there are regulations and considerations to keep in mind before building. View our Guide to Fences and Walls for details.

Other Questions

The Village of Rochester does not provide brush or yard waste collection or drop-off services. In recent years we have piloted a fall leaf pick-up program for select areas within the Village. Residents of these areas will be notified by mail. For all others, leaves can be composted or burned, or you can contact a yard waste disposal service. (Find more tips in this DNR brochure.) Burning: Permitted burning times are between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. with all fires being extinguished by 8:00 p.m. Fires must be attended at all times. See the Outdoor and Refuse Burning ordinance for more details. 

Overnight parking is prohibited on all streets throughout the Village. Overnight parking permits are available for three-month periods for some areas - contact us at 262-534-2431 for more information. For temporary on-street overnight parking, you must notify the Racine County Sheriff's office (262-534-5166) ahead of time and every day that the exception is needed.

You can report a street light issue directly to WE Energies.

The Rules and By-Laws of the Village Board allow any trustee to place an item for discussion on a Village Board meeting agenda. To initiate a change to an ordinance as a citizen, you will need to get at least one Village Board member to agree to introduce the request for an ordinance change at a Village Board meeting. It is recommended that you put your request in writing and that you be very specific about what you are asking for and the purpose behind your request (i.e., what problem are you trying to address, or what is the intended result of the ordinance change). Once you have thoroughly formulated your request and supporting reasons, the next step would be to reach out to your Village Board members to see if at least one of them is willing to sponsor the request. After that, the steps are:

  • If at least one Village Board member agrees to sponsor the request, they will direct staff to place the request on a Village Board meeting agenda. Please note that any written materials Board members receive are subject to open meeting laws and will be posted online in the Village Board meeting packet for the meeting where the request will be discussed.
  • At the scheduled Board meeting, Village Board members will discuss the pros and cons of the request and determine whether or not to refer it to the Ordinance Committee.
  • If the request passes this step, the Ordinance Committee will conduct an in-depth analysis, including a review of legal research; discussing the pros and cons of amending or changing the ordinance; discussing its potential impacts on the village as a whole; and potentially reviewing a legal draft of the ordinance amendment. After due consideration, it will then formulate its recommendation for the Village Board to approve or deny the ordinance amendment request.
  • If the ordinance amendment does not involve land use, the Ordinance Committee will forward its recommendation and, if applicable, the legal draft of the proposed ordinance amendment to the Village Board in the legal format that is needed to enact the change.
  • If the ordinance amendment involves land use (i.e. changes to the zoning code or land division code), it will then be forwarded from the Ordinance Committee to the Plan Commission so that the Plan Commission can also formulate a recommendation for the Village Board to approve or deny the ordinance amendment.  Please note that the Village of Rochester zoning code requires the Plan Commission to delay its recommendation on any zoning code changes until a meeting subsequent to the meeting at which an ordinance is first introduced (requiring a minimum of two meetings).
  • Depending on statutory requirements, a public hearing may need to be conducted prior to the Village Board taking an action to approve or deny an ordinance amendment. Public hearing notice requirements vary based on subject matter, but can add up to an additional month or two to the timeline.
  • Once all procedural requirements are met, the Village Board may take an action to approve or deny an ordinance amendment. A positive vote by the majority of the Village Board means the ordinance amendment passes.   A negative vote by the majority of the Village Board means the ordinance amendment fails. (Please note that some ordinance amendments require a 2/3 majority vote).

Considering all the steps that must occur and potential hurdles that can be encountered, the process could take as little as one month or up to six months or more. Most land use ordinances take somewhere between two and three months to move through the approval process. Please note:  If you are seeking an amendment to the zoning code that affects the allowable use of property that you own, you will need to work with the Zoning Administrator to apply for the rezoning, map, or text amendment.  An application for this type of ordinance amendment requires advance payment of applicable fees ranging from $850 to $1,000.