Despite the state Legislature allowing city employees to live in any town of their choice, Madison is considering enacting a new ordinance requiring municipal employees to live in the city.

The Board of Estimates debated the state law, which does not allow local municipalities to determine where their employees can live, in a meeting Monday night. The exception to the law includes police and firefighters, who are required to live within 15 miles of the city that they serve.

The Wisconsin Legislature adopted the law as part of state budget.

However, the board proposed enforcing the past residency requirements by issuing a charter ordinance to keep a small number of employees, such as department heads and mayoral office assistants, living within the city.

Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said arguments for these residency requirements generally focus on having personnel close by in emergency situations.

He added others have argued having government employees live in the city they work for can help local economies, encouraging employees to spend money where they earn their salaries.

Mayor Paul Soglin said in the meeting he is working on a report that will provide “options but not answers,” when asked about the current state of this new ordinance.

He said these options would range from housing incentives, cash grants for home buying, rental allowances, benefits and salary options. These options would be used as incentives for employees to consider moving to the city and closer to work, Soglin said.

However, Soglin added he is hesitant to the idea of requiring emergency personnel to move within city limits.

“I am reluctant for existing police and fire to make any changes that would require them to move at this time,” Soglin said. “I see tremendous benefits to them living in the city at this time, but I don’t want to do anything to uproot families. One thing I’m not interested in is having people from outside the 15 miles to have to move.”

The Board of Estimates will meet again on Dec. 9.