4-6-21 public safety referendum

Fond du Lac voters will decide a major public safety referendum in Tuesday’s spring election.   Voters are being asked for permission to add more than $1 million to the property tax to pay for additional firefighter/paramedics and police officers.   Fond du Lac Fire Chief Pete O’Leary says like everybody else he’s happy when taxes don’t go up, but he says the added positions are a need.  “I think about things that are most important to me, to protect my home and my family, public safety, fire and ems and police protection are right up there,”  O’Leary told WFDL news.  Responding to people who question the timing of the referendum during the pandemic, O’Leary says the city is well aware that it’s a big ask of Fond du Lac taxpayers, but says it’s needed.  He says originally the city was planning to have the referendum last November but decided to push it back to this spring because of the pandemic.  He says the new officers won’t be on board until the start of next year.