Letter: Former mayor supports November’s SPFD referendum
To my fellow Stevens Point Community Members-
I am writing to express my strong support for the upcoming November referendum aimed at increasing the number of firefighters/paramedics in Stevens Point by adding nine additional staff members—three for each crew. As our community continues to grow and evolve, so too must our emergency services.
In recent years, Stevens Point has witnessed a significant increase in both fire and paramedic call volumes with over 600 additional calls for service in just two years putting us over 5,538 total calls.
This rise is not just a number; it represents real lives, families, and homes in need of timely assistance during critical emergency situations. Our firefighters and paramedics are the first line of defense, and they deserve the resources and support necessary to carry out their duties effectively and safely in their service to us! Minutes matter when lives are on the line.
As the former Mayor of Stevens Point, I am uniquely positioned to understand the budget pressures, and for that matter, the State restrictions which handcuff local municipalities. I was also honored to represent the City during two separate EMS contract negotiations with Portage County. The County has been fair in their support of added funding, capital investment and increasing staffing levels in Stevens Point, Plover and Amherst.
It is time for the citizens of the City specifically, to step up and do what’s right to recognize the severe need for added investment in staffing for the overall safety of the City, and the ancillary added relief factor it will represent for the countywide EMS system as a whole. By adding nine staff members, we will be taking a proactive step to ensure that our emergency services can meet the increasing demand for help and assistance.
With more personnel on duty, response times will improve, allowing our dedicated firefighters and paramedics to provide the response time and care our community deserves. This is not just about meeting current needs; it’s about preparing for the future, ensuring that we are ready for whatever challenges may arise.
I urge every voting citizen of our City to weigh the small impact on taxes ($79.00 for the year on a median-priced home), with the major impact on safety for us and our responders, this referendum represents. Supporting it means supporting the health and safety of our friends, neighbors, and families. It is a crucial step in ensuring that Stevens Point remains a safe and vibrant place to live, work, and play.
Let us stand together in support of our first responders and vote in favor of increasing our firefighter/paramedic staffing levels. Together, we can ensure that Stevens Point is prepared to meet the needs of our growing community, while providing our heroes with the relief factor, support, and safety they so desperately deserve.
Andrew J. Halverson
Former Mayor, City of Stevens Point