Wauwatosa and West Allis Agree to Fire Department Merger

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The Wauwatosa Common Council has passed an intergovernmental agreement to merge the city's fire department with that of neighboring West Allis. The agreement, which passed 12-2, will establish a 10-year contract between the two municipalities, with either city able to withdraw with two years' notice. A study conducted in March 2025 projected the merger could yield up to $14 million in savings, with an estimated $7 million in the first five years.

Why it matters

The fire department merger aims to improve efficiency and reduce costs for both Wauwatosa and West Allis, which are neighboring cities in the Milwaukee metropolitan area. By combining resources and operations, the cities hope to maintain current service levels while generating significant long-term savings.

The details

Under the agreement, the Wauwatosa and West Allis fire departments will be combined into a single entity. The merged department will operate under a 10-year contract, with either city able to withdraw with two years' notice. A study conducted last year projected the merger could yield up to $14 million in savings, with an estimated $7 million in the first five years.

• The Wauwatosa Common Council passed the intergovernmental agreement on February 24, 2026.
• A study projecting the potential savings from the merger was conducted in March 2025.

What’s next

The merged fire department will begin operations under the new 10-year contract, with either Wauwatosa or West Allis able to withdraw with two years' notice.