# 2026 City of Hudson Fire Dept. Referendum Public Information Session

The City of Hudson Fire Department held a public information session on September 18, 2026, about a proposed referendum to fund nine full-time firefighter positions and improve emergency response coverage. The request is for a permanent $1.29 million annual increase to the City of Hudson’s levy limit; the amount would remain flat rather than rise with inflation and must be used for the positions described in the referendum. The staffing plan would provide three people on duty 24/7 while retaining paid-on-call firefighters for major or overlapping incidents. Department officials cited growing call volume, reduced volunteer availability, and turnout times of 8–10 minutes, with a goal of reducing turnout to 90 seconds. They reported that a community survey found 72% support for taking the proposal to referendum.

Officials explained that only City of Hudson residents vote on the city referendum, while neighboring communities that contract for fire services would still need to fund their shares; the Town of Hudson plans a separate referendum, and officials said the Town of Troy could currently absorb its increased cost. If the city referendum fails, the department would continue operating as it does now, while the city considers possible budget cuts, fee increases, or service reductions. The session was informational; no procurement decisions, contract awards, or spending motions were made.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Public Safety
**Published:** September 18, 2026

### Sources
- [2026 City of Hudson Fire Dept. Referendum Public Information Session](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNKG9DLj7oU) - River Channel