NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that at an election to be held in the Town of Dover, Racine County, State of Wisconsin, on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, the following proposed referendum will be submitted to a vote of the people pursuant to law:
The question will appear on the ballot as follows:
“Under state law, the increase in the levy of the Town of Dover for the tax to be imposed for the next fiscal year, 2027, is limited to 1.059%, which results in a levy of $547,454.00. Shall the Town of Dover be allowed to exceed this limit and increase the levy for the next fiscal year, 2027, for the purpose of sustaining full municipality services, by a total of 104.50%, which results in a levy of $1,119,542, and on an ongoing basis, include the increase of $572,088, for each fiscal year going forward?”
EXPLANATION STATEMENT & EFFECT OF VOTE
In 2026, the Town is operating on a mill rate of $1.01, which has resulted in these examples: no road resurfacing or shouldering, no tree removal or sign replacements, no building improvements such as: replacement of the town hall roof, no generator or overhead door replacements in the DPW area, Water Patrol hours reduced to the minimum required by the DNR.
Without a mill rate increase, the Town will be required to significantly reduce service levels beginning in 2027. This would include service level reductions in the current EMS paramedic level services, potentially the disbandment of the Water Patrol Department, and the continued inability to fund needed road and building improvements. Dover’s mill rate is at $1.01; it has consistently remained below its 2020 peak of $2.13. The Town has controlled costs for years, and those efforts have now reached their limit. It is not realistic to expect a business/household to operate on only a one percent annual increase.
Approval of the referendum will enable the Town to make gradual infrastructure improvements, including road resurfacing, shoulder upgrades, updated signage, and the installation of a backup power generator at the town hall to ensure DPW snow operations and voting equipment remain functional during power outages. A YES vote will increase the mill rate from $1.01 to $2.09 based on the 2025 Town assessed value of $535,522,300.00.
A “YES” vote will allow theTown of Dover to increase the property tax levy to maintain the current paramedic-level EMS services and meet increasing operational and capital costs.
A “NO” vote willrequire reductions in EMS from paramedic level to a technician who cannot administer medications and the continuation of no road or building improvements.
DONE in the Town of Dover, this 7th day of January, 2026.
Camille Gerou, Town of Dover Clerk