SB777-SSA1,28 5Section 28 . 59.42 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB777-SSA1,17,136 59.42 (3) Corporation counsel; attorney designee. In lieu of employing a
7corporation counsel under sub. (1) or in addition to employing a corporation counsel
8under sub. (1) or (2) (a), a board shall under sub. (1) or a county executive or county
9administrator under sub. (2) may
designate an attorney to perform the duties of a
10corporation counsel as the need arises. Two or more counties may jointly designate
11an attorney to perform the duties of a corporation counsel. If an attorney has been
12designated to perform the duties of a corporation counsel, that person may exercise
13any powers and perform any duties of the corporation counsel.
SB777-SSA1,29 14Section 29 . 59.44 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB777-SSA1,17,2215 59.44 (1) (b) In any county with a county executive or a county administrator,
16if the county creates an abstract department under par. (a), the county executive or
17county administrator shall appoint and supervise the county abstractor. Such
18appointment shall be subject to confirmation by the board unless the board, by
19ordinance, elects to waive confirmation or unless the appointment is made under a
20civil service system competitive examination procedure established under s. 59.52
21(8) or ch. 63, and except that in the case of a county with a population of at least
22750,000, the appointment is subject to the provisions of s. 59.17 (2) (b) 1
.
SB777-SSA1,30 23Section 30 . 59.52 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB777-SSA1,18,1024 59.52 (1) (a) In counties with a population of 500,000 or more, the county may
25create a department of administration, provide for the appointment by the county

1executive of a director of such department and assign such administrative functions
2to the department as it considers appropriate, subject to the limitations of this
3paragraph. No such function shall be assigned to the department where the
4performance of the same by some other county office, department , or commission is
5required by any provision of the constitution or statutes of this state, except that
6administrative functions under the jurisdiction of the county civil service
7commission or the county auditor may be so assigned notwithstanding sub. (8) and
8ss. 59.47, 59.60 and 63.01 to 63.17. Such director shall be appointed by the county
9executive in the unclassified civil service and is subject to confirmation by the county
10board, as provided in s. 59.17 (2) (bm)
the provisions of s. 59.17 (2) (b) 1.
SB777-SSA1,31 11Section 31 . 59.52 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB777-SSA1,19,212 59.52 (1) (b) Any county with a population of less than 500,000 may create a
13department of administration and assign any administrative function to the
14department as it considers appropriate, except that no administrative function may
15be assigned to the department if any other provision of state law requires the
16performance of the function by any other county office, department or commission
17unless the administrative function is under the jurisdiction of the county civil service
18commission or the county auditor, in which case, the function may be assigned to the
19department notwithstanding sub. (8) and ss. 59.47, 59.60 and 63.01 to 63.17. Except
20as provided under par. (a), in any county with a county executive or county
21administrator, the county executive or county administrator shall have the authority
22to appoint and supervise the head of a department of administration; and except as
23provided under par. (a), the appointment is subject to confirmation by the county
24board unless the appointment is made under a civil service system competitive
25examination procedure established under sub. (8) or ch. 63, and except that in the

1case of a county with a population of at least 750,000, the appointment is subject to
2the provisions of s. 59.17 (2) (b) 1
.
SB777-SSA1,32 3Section 32 . 59.52 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB777-SSA1,19,54 59.52 (3m) Public contracts. (a) In this subsection, “contract” means any
5agreement to which the county is a party that relates to at least one of these areas:
SB777-SSA1,19,66 1. The purchase of services.
SB777-SSA1,19,77 2. The purchase of supplies.
SB777-SSA1,19,88 3. The sale or purchase of real property.
SB777-SSA1,19,99 4. The lease as tenant or landlord of real property.
SB777-SSA1,19,1010 5. Construction and public works.
SB777-SSA1,19,1511 (b) In any county with an elective comptroller, the comptroller shall post,
12monthly, on a county Internet site a list of all contracts in excess of $5,000. The
13county executive shall timely provide copies of all contracts to the comptroller. The
14site shall be readily accessible by any member of the pubic. The site may be part of
15the county's website.
SB777-SSA1,33 16Section 33 . 59.52 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB777-SSA1,20,217 59.52 (9) Purchasing agent. The board county executive may appoint a person
18or committee as county purchasing agent, and provide compensation for their
19services, except that if the county does not have a county executive, the board may
20perform this function
. Any county officer or supervisor may be the agent or a
21committee member. The purchasing agent shall provide all supplies and equipment
22procurement and contracting as provided under sub. (3m) and s. 59.17 (2) (d) for the
23various county offices and the board chairperson shall promptly sign orders in
24payment therefor
. The board county executive may require that all purchases
25procurement and contracting be made in the manner determined by it he or she

1determines, except that if the county does not have a county executive, the board may
2perform this function
.
SB777-SSA1,34 3Section 34 . 59.52 (29) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB777-SSA1,20,204 59.52 (29) (a) All Except as provided in par. (am), all public work, including any
5contract for the construction, repair, remodeling or improvement of any public work,
6building, or furnishing of supplies or material of any kind where the estimated cost
7of such work will exceed $25,000 shall be let by contract to the lowest responsible
8bidder. Any public work, the estimated cost of which does not exceed $25,000, shall
9be let as the board may direct. If the estimated cost of any public work is between
10$5,000 and $25,000, the board shall give a class 1 notice under ch. 985 before it
11contracts for the work or shall contract with a person qualified as a bidder under s.
1266.0901 (2). A contract, the estimated cost of which exceeds $25,000, shall be let and
13entered into under s. 66.0901, except that the board may by a three-fourths vote of
14all the members entitled to a seat provide that any class of public work or any part
15thereof may be done directly by the county without submitting the same for bids.
16This subsection paragraph does not apply to public construction if the materials for
17such a project are donated or if the labor for such a project is provided by volunteers.
18This subsection paragraph does not apply to highway contracts which the county
19highway committee or the county highway commissioner is authorized by law to let
20or make.
SB777-SSA1,35 21Section 35. 59.52 (29) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
SB777-SSA1,21,1322 59.52 (29) (am) In a county with a population of at least 750,000, all public
23work, including any contract for the construction, repair, remodeling or
24improvement of any public work, building, or furnishing of supplies or material of
25any kind where the estimated cost of such work will exceed $50,000 shall be let by

1contract to the lowest responsible bidder. Any public work, the estimated cost of
2which does not exceed $50,000, shall be let as the county executive may direct. If the
3estimated cost of any public work is between $5,000 and $50,000, the county
4executive shall give a class 1 notice under ch. 985 before he or she contracts for the
5work or shall contract with a person qualified as a bidder under s. 66.0901 (2). A
6contract, the estimated cost of which exceeds $25,000, shall be let and entered into
7under s. 66.0901, except that the county executive may provide that any class of
8public work or any part of such work may be done directly by the county without
9submitting the same for bids. This paragraph does not apply to public construction
10if the materials for such a project are donated or if the labor for such a project is
11provided by volunteers. This paragraph does not apply to highway contracts that the
12county highway committee or the county highway commissioner is authorized by law
13to let or make.
SB777-SSA1,36 14Section 36 . 59.52 (31) of the statutes is repealed.
SB777-SSA1,37 15Section 37 . 59.53 (25) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB777-SSA1,21,1916 59.53 (25) Milwaukee County mental health. The Milwaukee County board
17has no jurisdiction and may not take any actions, including under ss. 59.52 (6) and
18(31)
, 66.0301, and 66.0607 (2), related to mental health functions, programs, and
19services.
SB777-SSA1,38 20Section 38 . 59.58 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB777-SSA1,21,2521 59.58 (1) (c) Operate airport projects or lease such projects in their entirety or
22in part, and any project may include space designed for leasing to others if the space
23is incidental to the purposes of the project, except that, in a county with a population
24of 750,000 or more, the authority to enter into a lease under this paragraph may be
25exercised only by the county executive, if the county has such an office
.
SB777-SSA1,39
1Section 39. 59.60 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB777-SSA1,22,52 59.60 (1) Application. The Except as provided in s. 59.602, the provisions of
3this section shall apply to all counties with a population of 500,000 750,000 or more.
4Except as provided in sub. (13), any Any county with a county executive or county
5administrator may elect to be subject to the provisions of this section.
SB777-SSA1,40 6Section 40 . 59.60 (12) of the statutes is renumbered 59.60 (12) (a) and
7amended to read:
SB777-SSA1,22,248 59.60 (12) (a) No Subject to par. (b), no payment may be authorized or made
9and no obligation incurred against the county unless the county has sufficient
10appropriations for payment. No Subject to par. (b), no payment may be made or
11obligation incurred against an appropriation unless the director first certifies that
12a sufficient unencumbered balance is or will be available in the appropriation to
13make the payment or to meet the obligation when it becomes due and payable. An
14obligation incurred and an authorization of payment in violation of this subsection
15is void, except as provided in par. (b). A county officer who knowingly violates this
16subsection is jointly and severally liable to the county for the full amount paid. A
17county employee who knowingly violates this subsection may be removed for cause.
18This subsection does not prohibit contracting for capital improvements being
19financed wholly or partly by the issuance of bonds or prevent the making of a contract
20or lease providing for the payment of funds at a time beyond the end of the fiscal year
21in which the contract or lease is made. The Subject to par. (b), the board shall make
22or approve by resolution each contract, lease or other obligation requiring the
23payment of funds from the appropriations of a later fiscal year or of more than one
24fiscal year.
SB777-SSA1,41 25Section 41 . 59.60 (12) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
SB777-SSA1,23,3
159.60 (12) (b) With regard to payments and obligations, and multi-year
2contracts, described under par. (a) that would otherwise be prohibited, such
3contracts may be validly entered into if at least one of the following applies:
SB777-SSA1,23,114 1. A contract requires funding from a future unbudgeted fiscal year and the
5contract contains a clause stating that the payment and performance obligation for
6a future fiscal year is subject to availability and appropriation of funds, and that if
7an appropriation is not available to fund the terms of the contract for the duration
8of the contract, the contract shall be null and void on the last day on which the
9appropriation to fund the contract is available. With regard to such a contract, board
10approval of a multi-year contract is not necessary for the contract to take effect if it
11is signed by the county executive.
SB777-SSA1,23,1612 2. The board approves a budget that is signed by the county executive and
13contains a continuing appropriation to fully fund a multi-year contract. The board
14need not approve the contract more than once for the contract to remain valid
15throughout the period during which it is fully funded by the continuing
16appropriation.
SB777-SSA1,42 17Section 42 . 59.60 (12) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
SB777-SSA1,23,1918 59.60 (12) (c) The provisions of this subsection apply to budgets adopted under
19this section and s. 59.602.
SB777-SSA1,43 20Section 43 . 59.602 of the statutes is created to read:
SB777-SSA1,23,23 2159.602 Alternative budget process in certain counties. (1) Application.
22(a) Subject to par. (b), the provisions of this section may be used by any county,
23including a county with a population of 750,000 or more.
SB777-SSA1,23,2524 (b) To use the provisions of this section, a county must take one of the following
25actions:
SB777-SSA1,24,5
11. If the county has a county executive or administrator, the county executive
2or administrator must issue a written proclamation stating that the county will use
3the provisions of this section. Once the proclamation is issued, it takes effect. No
4action by the county board is needed for the proclamation to take effect, and no
5county board action may stop or repeal the proclamation.
SB777-SSA1,24,76 2. In any other county, the board must adopt a resolution proclaiming that the
7county will use the provisions of this section.
SB777-SSA1,24,8 8(2) Definitions. In this section:
SB777-SSA1,24,149 (a) “Budget director” means the officer or employee of a county, other than the
10county executive, county administrator, or county administrative coordinator, who
11is principally responsible for developing and coordinating a county's budget, except
12that if the county's executive, administrator, or administrative coordinator is
13principally responsible for developing and coordinating a county's budget, that
14individual is the budget director.
SB777-SSA1,24,1715 (b) “Department" includes all county departments, boards, commissions,
16institutions, offices, and other agencies of the county government for which funds
17may be legally appropriated.
SB777-SSA1,24,1818 (c) “Director" means the director of the county department of administration.
SB777-SSA1,24,19 19(3) Fiscal year. The fiscal year in every county is the calendar year.
SB777-SSA1,24,23 20(4) Accounting and budgeting procedure. Every accounting and budgeting
21procedure that is applied under this section shall comply with generally accepted
22accounting principles for government as promulgated by the governmental
23accounting standards board or its successor bodies or other authoritative sources.
SB777-SSA1,26,10 24(5) Publication of budget and public hearing. The board shall refer the
25executive's or administrator's budget to the finance committee and such committee

1shall publish as a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, a summary of the executive's or
2administrator's budget and comparative figures together with a statement of the
3county's bonded indebtedness, and shall make available to the general public
4reprinted copies of the summary as published. The publication shall also state the
5date, hour, and place of the public hearing to be held by the board on such executive's
6or administrator's budget. The board shall, not less than 14 days after publication
7of the summary of the executive's or administrator's budget, and prior to the adoption
8of the property tax levy, hold a public hearing on such executive's or administrator's
9budget, at which time county residents may appear and express their opinions. After
10such public hearing, and on or before the annual meeting, the finance committee
11shall submit to the board its recommendations for amendments to the executive's or
12administrator's budget, if any, and the board shall adopt the budget with such
13changes as it considers proper and advisable. A request for an amendment to the
14budget must be submitted to the comptroller or budget director at least 7 business
15days before the amendment may be considered by the board or by a committee of the
16board, and the board or committee may not consider any amendment which is not
17submitted in conformity with this time frame. If the county has an elected
18comptroller, any amendment to the budget shall include an estimate, prepared by the
19comptroller, of the costs that will be incurred, and the staffing changes that will be
20required, to implement the amendment during the next 5 fiscal years. The board
21shall make the amendment and the estimate available to the public, in an electronic
22format, at least 24 hours before the amendment may be considered by the board or
23by a committee of the board. The board shall have the budget resolution prepared
24as it was adopted by the board, incorporating any adopted amendments, before
25presenting the resolution to the executive. Subject to sub. (6), the board of a county

1with a population of at least 750,000 may not adopt a budget in which the total
2amount of budgeted expenditures related to the compensation of county board
3members, and to any other costs that are directly related to the operation and
4functioning of the county board or committees of the board, including staff, is greater
5than 0.4 percent of the county portion of the tax levy for that year to which the budget
6applies. The board of a county with a population of at least 750,000 may not adopt
7a budget that alters any formula by which fringe benefits, interdepartmental
8charges for services, depreciation, or debt service are allocated in the executive's
9budget. When so adopted, the sums provided shall, subject to the provisions of sub.
10(7), constitute legal appropriations and anticipated revenues for the ensuing year.
SB777-SSA1,26,13 11(6) Milwaukee County budget cap. The 0.4 percent budget limitation for a
12county with a population of at least 750,000 that is described in sub. (5) does not
13apply to any of the following elements of the county's budget:
SB777-SSA1,26,1514 (a) Any costs related to pension and health care payments for retired county
15officers, employees, and their families.
SB777-SSA1,26,1816 (b) The costs for the salary, health benefits, and pension benefits of county
17board supervisors and the county board chairperson for any term that begins before
18April 2018.
SB777-SSA1,26,2019 (c) Any costs associated with duties performed by the county clerk under s.
2059.23 (2).
SB777-SSA1,26,2121 (d) Any costs associated with a department created under s. 59.52 (32).
SB777-SSA1,26,2222 (e) Space rental that is attributable to the county board.
SB777-SSA1,27,9 23(7) Transfers of appropriations. (a) At the request of the head of any
24department, and after receiving the recommendation of the county executive or
25county administrator, the director shall, at any time during the fiscal year, transfer

1any unencumbered appropriation balance or portion thereof between principal
2objects of expenditures within a department; but no transfers shall be made of
3appropriations originating from bond funds unless the purpose for which the bonds
4were issued has been fulfilled or abandoned. If more than one department is under
5the jurisdiction of the same board or commission or under the same general
6management, the group of departments may be considered as though they were a
7single unit with respect to transfers of appropriations within the group. If any
8transfers of funds occur, as described in this paragraph, the county executive shall
9notify the comptroller and the county board of the transfer.
SB777-SSA1,27,1510 (b) Upon the recommendation of the finance committee in a county without a
11county executive or county administrator, or upon the recommendation of the county
12executive or county administrator in other counties, and by resolution adopted by a
13majority of the members present and voting at any meeting, the board may transfer
14any unencumbered appropriation balance or portion thereof from one department or
15account to another.
SB777-SSA1,27,1716 (c) 1. Paragraph (b) does not apply to an appropriation which is irrepealable
17by law.
SB777-SSA1,27,2018 2. The board may not amend a recommendation under par. (b) to increase the
19amount to be transferred or to transfer funds to a department other than the
20department designated as the transferee in the recommendation.
SB777-SSA1,27,2221 3. No transfer may be made under this subsection unless the director certifies
22that sufficient unencumbered funds are available for transfer.
SB777-SSA1,27,25 23(8) Budgetary procedures, beyond 2017. (a) For fiscal years that begin after
24December 31, 2017, a county that chooses under sub. (1) (b) to operate under this
25section shall adopt a budget that contains the provisions specified in this section.
SB777-SSA1,28,4
1(b) Beginning in 2017, and in every odd-numbered year thereafter, a county
2shall adopt a biennial budget following the timeline specified in par. (c) that sets forth
3all of the following items, and no others, for the 2 fiscal years that immediately follow
4the year in which the budget is adopted:
SB777-SSA1,28,55 1. The county tax levy.
SB777-SSA1,28,66 2. Anticipated revenue amounts from all sources.
SB777-SSA1,28,87 3. Appropriations for all departments and for any other obligations of the
8county.
SB777-SSA1,28,99 (c) 1. All departments shall submit their budget requests to the director.
SB777-SSA1,28,1310 2. The county executive, county administrator, or, in a county without a county
11executive or administrator, the finance committee, shall submit his or her, or its,
12proposed budget to the board, either electronically or in writing, not later than
13October 1 of an odd-numbered year.
SB777-SSA1,29,314 3. In a county with a county executive, the board shall approve the budget,
15engrossed with any amendments, and return it to the county executive no later than
16November 15 of an odd-numbered year. Any amendment to the budget must be
17submitted to the comptroller or budget director at least 7 business days before the
18amendment may be considered by the board or by a committee of the board, and the
19board or committee may not consider any amendment that is not submitted in
20conformity with this time frame. If the county has an elective comptroller, an
21amendment shall also include an estimate, prepared by the comptroller, of the costs
22that will be incurred, and the staffing changes that will be required, to implement
23the amendment during the next 5 fiscal years. The board shall make the amendment
24and the estimate available to the public, in an electronic format, at least 24 hours
25before the amendment may be considered by the board or by a committee of the

1board. The board shall have the budget resolution prepared as it was adopted by the
2board, incorporating any adopted amendments, before presenting the resolution to
3the executive.
SB777-SSA1,29,84 4. If a county executive wishes to veto any part of the budget under s. 59.17 (5)
5or (6), the county executive shall do so no later than November 25 of an
6odd-numbered year. The board may not schedule a meeting to act on the county
7executive's vetoes, as described in subd. 5., before it receives the vetoes or November
826 of an odd-numbered year, whichever comes first.
SB777-SSA1,29,119 5. The board may act on all of the county executive's vetoes or changes, as
10described in s. 59.17 (5) and (6), no later than December 1 of an odd-numbered year,
11or the vetoes or changes shall be considered to be approved by the board.
SB777-SSA1,29,1212 6. In a county without a county executive, the board shall approve the budget.
SB777-SSA1,29,1413 (d) A county that uses the provisions of this section shall utilize fund
14accounting. Section 59.60 (3m), as it applies to s. 59.60, applies to this section.
SB777-SSA1,30,215 (e) 1. Outside of the budget process, the county executive, county administrator,
16or, in a county without a county executive or administrator, the finance committee
17may propose to the board an increase or decrease in any appropriation or revenue
18amount, subject to the budget amendment procedures under par. (c) 3. To be
19approved, such a proposal requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the
20members-elect of the board and the proposal may not be amended by the board,
21except that when such a proposal is made, and voted on by the board, after September
2230 and before November 16 of any even-numbered year, such a proposal may be
23approved by a simple majority vote of the members-elect of the board and the board
24may amend the proposal. Any proposal submitted after September 30 and before

1October 31 of an even-numbered year shall be voted on by the board before
2November 16 of that even-numbered year.
SB777-SSA1,30,73 2. In any county that adopts a 2-year budget under this subsection, the board
4may adjust the levy under s. 66.0602, subject to subd. 3., for the 2nd year of the
5budget once the board receives from the department of revenue the information it
6needs to determine the county's valuation factor, as defined in s. 66.0602 (1) (d), for
7that 2nd budgetary year.
SB777-SSA1,30,98 3. If the board adjusts the levy as described under subd. 2., it may act by a
9simple majority vote of the members-elect of the board.
SB777-SSA1,30,1910 (f) With regard to every county department that has appropriations and
11expenses contained in a budget that is adopted under this section, the budget
12provisions that apply to such a department shall contain an appropriation account
13into which a gift or grant bestowed upon that department shall be deposited. If a
14department receives such a gift or grant, the department may spend the funds, with
15the consent of the county executive, county administrator, or, in a county without a
16county executive or administrator, the finance committee, but without county board
17approval, for the purposes for which the gift or grant was bestowed. If any
18department receives a gift or grant as described under this paragraph, the county
19executive shall notify the comptroller and the county board of the gift or grant.
SB777-SSA1,31,220 (g) 1. Subject to subd. 2., the board of a county with a population of at least
21750,000 may not adopt a budget in which the total amount of budgeted expenditures
22related to the compensation of county board members, and to any other costs that are
23directly related to the operation and functioning of the county board or committees
24of the board, including staff, is greater than 0.4 percent of the county portion of the
25tax levy for that year to which the budget applies. The board may not alter any

1formula by which fringe benefits, interdepartmental charges for services,
2depreciation, or debt service are allocated in the recommended budget.
SB777-SSA1,31,53 2. The 0.4 percent budget limitation for a county with a population of at least
4750,000 that is described in subd. 1. does not apply to any of the following elements
5of the county's budget:
SB777-SSA1,31,76 a. Any costs related to pension and health care payments for retired county
7officers, employees, and their families.
SB777-SSA1,31,108 b. The costs for the salary, health benefits, and pension benefits of county board
9supervisors and the county board chairperson for any term that begins before April
102018.
SB777-SSA1,31,1211 c. Any costs associated with duties performed by the county clerk under s. 59.23
12(2).
SB777-SSA1,31,1313 d. Any costs associated with a department created under s. 59.52 (32).
SB777-SSA1,31,1414 e. Space rental that is attributable to the county board.
SB777-SSA1,44 15Section 44 . 59.61 (4) of the statutes is created to read:
SB777-SSA1,31,1816 59.61 (4) Fund accounting. (a) A county that is subject to s. 59.60 shall utilize
17fund accounting. Section 59.60 (3m), as it applies to s. 59.60, applies to this
18subsection.
SB777-SSA1,32,519 (b) In addition to a general fund, a county may create other governmental
20funds, proprietary funds, fiduciary funds, and other appropriate funds allowed by
21government accounting practice, provided that in creating each fund the county
22describes the sources of revenues that may be deposited into each fund and the types
23of expenditures that may be made from each fund. Counties may maintain
24reasonable balances in each such fund to provide the county with necessary working
25capital, based on sound business principles, to avoid cash flow interruptions and the

1need to engage in short-term borrowing to fund daily operations. In counties with
2no county executive, the board may create a fund described in this paragraph by
3ordinance. In counties with a county executive, only the county executive may create
4a fund described in this paragraph by executive order, and such an executive order
5may not be modified or otherwise affected by county board action.
SB777-SSA1,32,86 (c) A county that creates governmental, proprietary, fiduciary, or other funds
7under this subsection shall develop policies and procedures that apply to each such
8fund, including all of the following:
SB777-SSA1,32,99 1. Setting a working cash flow target for each fund.
SB777-SSA1,32,1010 2. Publishing annual estimates of working cash flow balances.
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