General FAQs

These three needs are interconnected. Fire and EMS require reliable, full-time staffing to ensure consistent emergency response. Police needs additional patrol capacity to maintain proactive community policing while responding effectively to a growing demand for service. Public Works provides critical support for the City’s expanded public safety operations by maintaining fire facilities, emergency vehicles, and equipment, while continuing to meet increasing demands for road maintenance, stormwater management, and snow and ice removal.

The current estimated impact is approximately $500 per year for a home valued at $512,000 and $440 per year for a home valued at $450,000, or about $0.98 per $1,000 of assessed value. The City will provide clear examples and updated estimates before the election. Actual tax impacts may vary based on final assessed values. In addition, levies from the school district, county, and technical college are determined separately and are not part of the City’s levy.

No. If approved, the levy would increase by approximately $5.9 million in 2027, and that additional amount would remain part of the City’s levy in future years to support the ongoing public safety staffing and services included in the proposal.

Individual tax bills may still change from year to year based on changes in assessed value, community growth, decisions by other taxing jurisdictions, and any future decisions made under state law.

If the Council had not acted in time for the November 2026 election, implementation would likely be delayed approximately 17 months. The concern is that the staffing pressures identified in the study will continue during that delay.

No. A reassessment changes how the approved levy is divided among properties; it does not, by itself, increase the total amount collected by the City. If total assessed value rises while the levy stays the same, the tax rate falls. Individual owners may pay more or less depending on whether their property value changed more or less than the community as a whole.

A property-tax bill contains separate levies for the City, Muskego-Norway School District, Waukesha County, Waukesha County Technical College and any applicable special district. An increase in the total bill does not necessarily mean the City received that entire increase. The bill should be reviewed by taxing jurisdiction.

Any change caused solely by reassessment reflects a redistribution of the existing levy. Separate levy increases, debt payments or changes by the other taxing jurisdictions are different from the reassessment itself.

Municipal levy growth is generally tied to net new construction, not the total increase in market value from reassessment or appreciation. Muskego’s net new construction has often been below 2% and, in many years, below 1%. That can provide only 1% to 2% in additional ongoing revenue while wages, insurance, fuel, equipment and contracted services may rise faster.

Taxes approved for school buildings go to the Muskego-Norway School District, a separate government. Those revenues cannot be used by the City for Fire/EMS, Police, or Public Works.

The need for a more reliable staffing structure, the proposed funding categories and the general municipal-combination model are the current framework. The exact Fire/EMS position mix, hiring schedule, station assignments, shift structure, facility work, equipment purchases and long-term role of each staffing group still require detailed transition planning and formal approvals.

The $5.9 million request is based on the projected annual cost when the multi-year plan is fully implemented, approximately five years from now. Because the City cannot return to voters each year to increase the referendum amount as positions are phased in, the plan is expected to produce budget surpluses during the initial years. Those funds will be segregated and used only for public-safety needs involving Fire/EMS, Police and Public Works.

Early-year surpluses may fund one-time capital and transition costs, such as remodeling fire stations for full-time staffing and living quarters, purchasing an additional police squad car for expanded patrol coverage, and obtaining needed Fire/EMS and Police equipment. Any funds not used for capital expenses will be reserved for future public-safety operations. The goal is to extend these funds as long as possible and reduce the need to seek additional funding from voters. The City will also pursue available grants to help fund eligible positions.

The City will hold multiple public information meetings and conduct additional community outreach between August and November. Residents will be able to ask questions, review supporting materials and receive updates on what is known and what remains under development.

Attend a Public Information Session:

• Tuesday, September 15, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. at City Hall

• Wednesday, October 14, 4-6 p.m. at City Hall

• Saturday, October 31, 10 a.m. to noon at the Muskego Public Library

July 28, 2026 — Formal Council discussion and introduction of a draft ballot question.

August 4, 2026 — Council considers a resolution placing the question on the November ballot.

August 24, 2026 — Deadline to file the question with the City Clerk.

August 25, 2026 — Deadline to file the question with the County Clerk.

Tuesday, September 15 – Public Information Sessions, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. at City Hall.

Wednesday, October 14 – Public Information Session, 4-6 p.m. at City Hall

Saturday, October 31 – Public Information Session, 10 a.m. to noon at the Public Library.

August–November 2026 — Additional outreach, education and public information.

October 20, 2026 – In-person Absentee Voting begins.

November 3, 2026 — Muskego voters consider the referendum.

No. The referendum will appear on the ballot as a single question. Voters may vote “Yes” or “No” on the full proposal; individual components of the referendum cannot be voted on separately.