VIROQUA, Wis. — The City of Viroqua is facing a challenging budget season for 2026, forcing city leadership to make hard decisions on public safety staffing amid tight fiscal constraints and a push to increase employee compensation across departments.
The central theme of the 2026 budget process has been the need for more dramatic wage adjustments to improve staff retention and competitiveness, as many employees have seen their real wages decline relative to inflation over the past several years. This priority collides directly with the reality that the city is currently operating at or near its levy limits, leaving virtually no cushion for unplanned increases.
Public Safety Budget Scrutiny
Public Safety budgets, covering both the Police and Fire Departments, have been significantly adjusted by the Budget Team in an effort to meet city goals while adhering to the tight levy limits.
The Police Department initially requested approximately $163,000 in additional funding. The budget drafts presented later showed an expense increase of about $29,000, but when accounting for reduced projected revenue from sources like DMV services, the total net cost increase to taxpayers is projected to be more than $33,000.
The Fire Department’s total expenses are increasing by nearly $34,000, largely driven by staffing changes and increased costs. However, increased revenue, including an anticipated rise in the township share and fire insurance refunds, means the net cost increase to taxpayers is lower, projected at a little more than $19,000. The Fire Department also opted to transition an administrative assistant position to a Fire Officer role to prioritize training and response capabilities over administrative support, a “hard decision” made due to budget limitations and the need for more trained firefighters.
Proposed Cut to Police Dispatch Role Sparks Concern
The most contentious discussion within the Public Safety budget involves the proposed elimination of the second-shift dispatcher/administrative assistant position at the Police Department. This recommendation was one of two major changes the budget team made to the Police Department’s initial request in order to manage the budget deficit.
Both the Budget Team’s draft and an amended draft proposed by Police Chief Rick Niedfeldt anticipate cutting the position, though the Chief’s version proposed funding it slightly longer into 2026.
Niedfeldt stressed that referring to the role merely as “dispatcher” is misleading, as the individual handles extensive administrative duties and acts as a “keeper of the building”. The cut would mean essential tasks like processing 15 to 20 open records requests per week would shift to officers.
“You’re going to see us less out and about,” said Niedlfeldt. “You’re going to see we’re going to be in the office a lot more absorbing the case load,”
Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson said the dispatch duties would fall to his department over the evening hours and they will find a way to handle the calls but confirmed the impact, stating the cut “will affect the sheriff’s office. We’re going to be busier,” acknowledging the vital role Viroqua’s dispatchers play.
Council members acknowledged the difficult spot the city is in, with Seth McClurg suggesting the city explore increasing fines and tickets to support the Police Department, while others conceded that cutting the position appears necessary just “to even begin to work the number down”.
Todd Spaeth specifically requested the Chief to re-examine the decision, stating: “I think it needs to be looked into a little bit more as far as I’m concerned but not make any rash decisions”.
Spaeth said he had been told that the city has talked about eliminating the position for years and possibly decades and he is not co,nvinced it should be based on increased call volumes and city growth.
Alderperson Steve Willis asked Chief Niedfeldt if they decided to not cut the position “how do we pay for it?”
“That would be a question for sitting down with the budget committee and Nate (City Administrator Nate Torres) and seeing where we can cut and slash,” said Niedfeldt. “Its a team effort and we will have to see where we can come up with the money.”
The city is still finalizing it’s budget and the proposed city budget will be discussed at the Personnel and Finance Committee that meets at 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct 14 and at the Viroqua Common Council at 6:30 p.m.
Impact of lost dispatcher
Dispatcher Annette Olsen and Corinna Halvorson presented data showing that Viroqua’s first and second shifts handle approximately two-thirds of the total calls for service, with second shift alone handling 1,428 calls year-to-date. They warned the cut would force 1,428 calls to be handled by County dispatch.
Essential duties performed by second shift dispatchers:
Olson and Halvorson gave a breakdown of the essential tasks performed by the Viroqua Police Department’s second-shift dispatcher/administrative assistant position are extensive, encompassing critical administrative, reporting, and public-facing duties, many of which occur outside of standard business hours:
- Official Crime Reporting: Preparing and submitting the monthly, federally required UCR (Uniform Crime Reporting) and NIBRS (National Incident-Based Reporting System) reports, which categorize crime details, demographics (gender, age, race), and ensure accuracy, including working through mandatory audits.
- • Time System Coordination: Serving as the TAC coordinator, responsible for maintaining the security of all equipment and records, updating employee statuses, managing certifications, and ensuring specialized training in the time system.
- • Records Management: Processing records requests, which includes handling 15 to 20 open records requests per week that often require redactions (e.g., of date of birth, driver’s license, juvenile information, or video blackouts).
- • Filing and Billing: Managing filing systems and completing DMV monthly reports.
- Public-Facing Services (Lost or Reduced After 4 p.m.):
- • In-Person Transactions: Accepting payments for parking tickets and records requests, services for which the city does not currently offer online payment options.
- • DMV Services: Providing DMV services, which are typically utilized by the public between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
- • Medication Drop-Off: Managing the medication drop-off box, which is currently available until 11 p.m. and is part of a significant statewide drug takeback program.
- • Records Pick-up: Allowing citizens to pick up completed records requests after standard working hours.
- • Community Room Access: Supervising and unlocking the community room for evening meetings held by community groups such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and hunter safety courses.
- • Safe Haven: Offering a safe location within the only 24-hour city department for individuals, such as victims of domestic violence, during evening hours.
- • Walk-in Traffic: Serving the 481 walk-in customers recorded year-to-date.
- Internal Support and Coordination:
- • Law Enforcement Assistance: Assisting officers in investigations (e.g., monitoring camera systems to help solve burglaries).
- • Notary Services: Acting as a notary for officers (and sometimes county deputies) who need probable cause statements notarized in the evening.
- • Emergency Dispatch & Paging: Paging Fire and EMS and fielding incoming phone calls, averaging 51 calls during the evening hours (3 p.m. to 11 p.m.).
- • After-Hours Coordination: Contacting essential city staff, such as the Street and Utility Departments (including MG&E) and tow companies, when issues like water problems or accidents occur after normal hours.
- • Security and Maintenance: Serving as a “keeper of the building”, ensuring security, handling mail and package deliveries, and supervising building maintenance contractors (HVAC, plumbing) after hours.
- • Technology & Communication: Updating the Viroqua Police Department website and Facebook page with information (e.g., snow events), a duty that requires significant effort.
Public Safety Workload Statistics
The dispatchers presented specific data on the volume of work currently managed by the City’s police department staffThe statistics presented by Annette Olsen and Karina Halverson regarding the workload a. nd services provided by the second shift dispatcher highlight the significant operational and public service impacts resulting from the proposed position cut.
The data presented covers figures up to September 15th, 2025, or totals for the previous year (2024):
• Total Calls for Service (Year-to-Date): The Viroqua Police Department (VPD) and Vernon County handled a total of 3,963 calls for service.
• VPD Dispatch Workload: VPD’s first and second shifts combined handled 2,870 calls (1,442 by first shift and 1,428 by second shift). This accounts for approximately two-thirds of the total calls for service for the year.
• Second Shift Call Volume: The second shift dispatch alone handled 1,428 calls for service year-to-date. Eliminating this position would transfer these 1,428 calls to County dispatch.
• Annual Incoming Phone Calls (2024): The police department received 19,134 incoming phone calls.
• Average Daily Incoming Phone Calls (M-F): The department handles an average of 127 phone calls per day (Monday through Friday).
◦ First shift handles an average of 76 calls.
◦ Second shift handles an average of 51 calls in the evening hours.
• Records Requests: The dispatchers “tag team” processing an average of 15 to 20 open records requests per week.
• Records Requests Handled (Year-to-Date): A total of 289 records requests have been processed so far this year.
Public Service and Revenue Statistics
• Public Walk-Ins: The police department recorded 481 customers who walked in for DMV services or other purposes (like complaints or fingerprinting) year-to-date.
• DMV Services Timing: Most DMV services are utilized by the public between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
• DMV Income (Profit to PD):
◦ In 2024, the police department collected $5,173 in DMV income.
◦ In 2025 (year-to-date), DMV income collected is $5,951.60, with a projected total income of $8,268 for the year, due to an increase in the DMV county fee.
• Medication Drop-Off: The drug takeback box is currently available until 11 p.m.
◦ In 2024, the department collected roughly 377 pounds of medication (pills only, excluding packaging).
◦ In 2025 (year-to-date), they have collected 762 pounds of medication.
Impact on County Dispatch
• Calls Transferred Daily: If Viroqua Police dispatch is closed from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., an average of 51 calls per day would be forwarded to Vernon County Dispatch. This equates to 255 calls per week.
• Calls Transferred During Vacation/Sick Leave: When the sole remaining Viroqua dispatcher is on vacation or sick leave, an additional average of 127 calls per day (Monday through Friday) would be transferred to County dispatch. This equates to 635 more calls per week.
Timeline of Public Safety Budget Discussions
The budget process for the City of Viroqua’s public safety departments, including the Police and Fire Departments, involved multiple public meetings and committee discussions in 2025:
• June 24, 2025: The Common Council held a regular meeting where they discussed the upcoming 2026 Budget Goals, noting early conversations in the police and fire departments regarding the need to increase wages to be more competitive.
• July 8, 2025: The Common Council formally discussed and approved the 2026 budget process and goals, including assigning the Budget Team.
• July 22, 2025: During a Parks & Recreation and Plan Commission joint meeting, city staff mentioned that public service entities, including the Viroqua Police Department (PD), were experiencing stress due to an estimated 24-25% increase in calls, potentially linked to an undercount of the city’s population.
• August (Late 2025): Department Heads submitted their initial draft budgets. The Police Department’s initial request sought approximately $163,000 in additional funding.
• August 19, 2025: The Public Safety Committee met, where the Fire Chief updated the committee on efforts to review and renew township contracts.
• August 27, 2025: A public budget presentation was held, where department heads, including those from public safety, presented their draft budgets for public input.
• Late August – Mid-September 2025: The Budget Team held multiple weekly meetings (e.g., meeting at least twice before 8/26) to revise the drafts, resulting in the elimination of the second-shift dispatcher/administrative assistant position in the Police Department’s budget draft. Police union bargaining efforts also took place.
• September 16, 2025: The Public Safety Committee met: The Fire Chief presented his draft budget, detailing a staffing change from an administrative assistant to a Fire Officer role due to budget constraints, resulting in a net taxpayer increase of about $19,000. The Police Chief tabled his full budget to provide accurate numbers but informed the committee of the Budget Team’s recommendation to eliminate the second-shift dispatcher.
• September 23, 2025: The Public Safety Committee met specifically to discuss the police dispatch positions for 2026.
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