City of Plymouth Police
The City of Plymouth’s Common Council has approved placing a referendum on the November ballot, seeking approval to make adjustments needed for the Police Department to meed expanding demands for services. The proposal would add three additional sworn patrol officers, phased in over 2027, along with contractual wage adjustments for current staff, two additional squad cars and related equipment. Voters in the City of Plymouth will be asked whether they support a permanent $600,000 increase in the property tax levy to fund these investments.
In a release on Tuesday, the city said that there have been no sworn officer positions added since 1997 despite continued population growth and rising service demands. Of note were increases of more than 250% in incident reports since 2005, nearly tripling between 2020 and 2025. At the same time, Plymouth’s violent and property crime rates remain well below state and national averages.
If the referendum is approved by a majority of voters, there would be an estimated property tax increase of $46 per $100,000 of assessed property value, beginning with bills issued this coming December. If rejected, then the City would be unable to increase the property tax levy and prevented from funding additional police. More information will be made available during the coming weeks at plymouthwi.gov/publicsafety.
Here is the text of the referendum:
“Under state law, the increase in the levy of the City of Plymouth for the tax to be imposed for the next fiscal year, 2027, is limited to 2.046%, which results in a levy of $5,769,712. Shall the City of Plymouth be allowed to exceed this limit and increase the levy for the next fiscal year, 2027, for the purpose of funding three additional police officers and related equipment and wage adjustments in the Police Department, by a total of 10.399%, which results in a levy of $6,369,712 and on an ongoing basis, include the increase of $600,000 for each fiscal year going forward?”
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