The Sconi

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers recently announced that he has earmarked a more than $100 million increase in his next state budget for local communities long struggling to fund essential services.

“For years, communities have been forced to do more with less,” Evers 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.”

WPR reported the funding will go to various communities across the state and will be to assure that such emergency services as fire departments, EMS and other emergency services are readily available. The changes come as many local communities are in the process of raising taxes or referendums to fund essential services.

The financial crunch has been especially felt in rural areas where the volunteer firefighter model has proven easier to fund, but the numbers have dwindled over the past two decades. The 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, officials are now asking residents to pass a $1.1 million referendum on Nov. 8 that would pave the way for the City to be able to hire a full-time fire and EMS department.

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.