NEW BERLIN – The Town of New Berlin is holding a public hearing Tuesday night to talk about its budget challenges that may include disbanding the New Berlin Police Department.

The hearing will seek feedback but a final decision on the issue will be put to a public vote through a referendum at a later date.

A public hearing will be held at 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, October 13 at the New Berlin Town Hall. The hearing will take place before the official board meeting.

Officials said the hearing will authorize the town to begin moving ahead with a public vote on the issue at a later date, when resident will cast their own ballots over the proposal.

The town reported it was already having a hard time staffing the department, and they need to cut the police force in order to save money, citing fallout from COVID-19.

According to Town of New Berlin Supervisor Robert Starr, New Berlin has been heavily impacted by the coronavirus and is struggling to balance the budget. The town is looking at a number of cuts besides those to the police department.