In April 2025, voters in Marshfield, WI showed their support for local first responders in a significant way. Through a referendum, they passed an initiative that will restore the county’s firefighter and paramedic staffing levels.
The ballot question authorized the city to exceed state-imposed levy limits by an additional amount each year, enabling the Marshfield Fire and Rescue Department to hire two full-time firefighter/paramedics, effective January 2026. This victory demonstrates how residents prioritize emergency services when given the opportunity to vote directly on funding, and it represents exactly the kind of community-backed win that the Firefighters and EMS Fund champions.
What Was the Referendum All About?
The approved referendum allows Marshfield to exceed state-imposed levy limits, generating additional annual funding to hire and retain two full-time firefighters or paramedics. This critical investment will restore the department’s staffing to previous levels, ensuring that, starting in January, all three shifts will have 12 people answering calls.
According to Everett Mueller, Marshfield’s Fire Chief, the decision “ensures that we can continue providing the high-quality emergency response and medical care that Marshfield residents rely on.”
The additional staff members will directly address response capacity challenges, with officials noting that this will help shorten response times, enhance the department’s ability to handle simultaneous or large emergencies, while protecting firefighters from fatigue and burnout. In a profession where seconds count, these gains may very well translate into lives saved.
This comprehensive approach addresses both immediate operational needs and long-term sustainability for emergency services.
Why This Win Matters
Marshfield’s referendum addressed a growing crisis facing many communities nationwide: emergency services are stretched thinner with every passing cycle due to increasing demand and dwindling resources.
Between 2000 and 2024, Marshfield experienced a 48% increase in fire and EMS calls, an escalation that translates to a rise from 2,390 to 3,543 incidents annually. This stark increase highlights how communities are outgrowing their emergency response capacity, resulting in dangerous gaps in coverage.
By passing this referendum, citizens have demonstrated growing awareness of these challenges, as well as their willingness to take direct action. The result proves that when communities understand the real-world impact of funding shortfalls, they consistently choose to support their first responders through concrete, measurable investments.
A Model for Other Communities?
Marshfield’s success offers a blueprint for communities nationwide struggling with similar emergency services funding challenges. For those seeking similar initiatives in their area, we have two important, replicable lessons to consider.
First is the use of the direct referendum model. Instead of waiting for an elected official to push for a funding increase, a referendum can better bypass political gridlock by going directly to voters. In this way, people can make informed decisions about their local safety priorities without linking them to any other controversial initiatives.
The campaign also focused on transparency and public education. This included multiple public hearings and detailed cost breakdowns, which allowed communities to engage in an honest dialogue about how their money is spent.
Other towns facing similar staffing shortages or equipment needs should take note of Marshfield’s strategic approach: clear communication about the problem, specific solutions with measurable outcomes, and direct voter engagement. This grassroots model proves that local advocacy, combined with voter education and community organizing, can overcome funding obstacles that have stymied traditional budget processes.
Firefighters & EMS Fund’s Perspective
The Marshfield victory represents everything the Firefighters & EMS Fund stands for: communities taking ownership of their public safety priorities and backing first responders with concrete action rather than just words.
This referendum demonstrates the power of local organizing and voter education to create real change for emergency services. We can see that people have chosen to invest in their firefighters and paramedics, despite economic pressures, which shows the deep respect Americans have for those who risk their lives in service.
We celebrate Fire Chief Mueller and his team’s leadership in advocating for their department’s needs. This win energizes our ongoing mission to support similar efforts nationwide, proving that grassroots advocacy can overcome funding challenges when communities unite behind their first responders.
Final Thoughts
Marshfield voters and public safety leaders deserve tremendous congratulations for this important victory. Now is the time for advocates across the country to study Marshfield’s approach and call for similar referendums in their own communities.
And what about regular voters and community members? Together, we can build a movement that ensures every community has the emergency services it needs and deserves. Ultimately, the Marshfield referendum was a success because they were able to garner support from ordinary people. The first step? To stay informed, engage with our neighbors, and seize every opportunity to raise awareness about the topic.
This is how we can create lasting change for firefighters, paramedics, and the communities they serve.
