Kenosha residents to vote on increased funding for police, firefighters

KENOSHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Kenosha voters will now decide in a referendum on whether to increase funding for more police officers and firefighters. 

The city plans to pay for this by increasing the state-mandated tax levy on property owners.

The goal is to use the new funding to hire 10 additional police officers and six additional firefighters.

"I know they're well-needed," said Kenosha firefighter Ricardo Lebron. "We could use them. Six firefighters, boots on the streets, driving the fire truck and ambulances responding to emergencies, making the city safer. Roads are falling apart. The city burned to the ground. I'm not willing to pay for more of the same."

The referendum will be held Aug. 9. The same day as the primary election.