Referendum to double budget of Western Lakes Fire Department fails

OCONOMOWOC, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A referendum to double the budget of the Western Lakes Fire Department has failed.

It needed to pass in the city and town of Oconomowoc, Merton, Ottawa, Lac La Belle and Summit, but failed to do so.

Western Lakes has about a $6.8 million budget right now. 

They wanted to add a little over $6 million more for 33 firefighters and paramedics, three battalion chiefs, 15 interns, an administrator and fire inspector.