Overview
- Common councils in both cities approved the intergovernmental agreement, with votes of 12–2 in Wauwatosa and 10–0 in West Allis, establishing a 10-year contract with a two-year withdrawal option.
- Service under the joint department is slated to begin at the end of April 2026, with full employee transfers targeted by Jan. 1, 2027.
- A single fire chief will be hired this summer, and leaders plan to negotiate a new union contract for the combined workforce in the same timeframe.
- Officials cite an estimated $7 million in savings over the first five years, with no planned frontline staffing cuts or station closures and only modest administrative consolidation.
- The new department plans to apply for State Innovation Fund grants that could top $4 million annually if awarded, and officials have discussed the possibility of other municipalities joining in the future.