AB375: Bill Text

AB375,13,24 YES ⍽ NO ⍽

AB375, s. 31 Section 31. 67.05 (4) and (5) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB375,14,14 67.05 (4) Permissive referendum in counties. If a county board adopts an initial resolution for an issue of county bonds to provide for the original construction or for the improvement and maintenance of highways, to provide railroad aid, or to construct, acquire or maintain, or to aid in constructing, acquiring or maintaining a bridge over or across any stream or other body of water bordering upon or intersecting any part of the county, the county clerk is not required to submit the resolution for approval to the electors of the county at a special election referendum unless within 30 days after the adoption thereof there is filed with the clerk a petition conforming to the requirements of s. 8.40 and requesting such submission, signed by electors numbering at least 10% of the votes cast in the county for governor at the last general election. If a petition is filed, the question submitted shall be whether the resolution shall be or shall not be approved. No such resolution of a county board other than those specified in this subsection need be submitted to county electors, except as provided otherwise in sub. (7).

AB375,15,2 (5) Referendum in towns, villages and cities. (a) Whenever an initial resolution has been so adopted by the governing body of a town, the clerk of the municipality shall immediately record the resolution and call a special election referendum in accordance with s. 8.065 for the purpose of submitting the resolution to the electors of the municipality for approval. This paragraph does not apply to bonds issued to finance low-interest mortgage loans under s. 66.38, unless a number of electors equal to at least 15% of the votes cast for governor at the last general election in their town sign and file a petition conforming to the requirements of s. 8.40 with the town clerk requesting submission of the resolution. Whenever a number of electors cannot be determined on the basis of reported statistics, the number shall be determined in accordance with s. 60.74 (6). If a petition is filed, the question submitted shall be whether the resolution shall or shall not be approved. This paragraph is limited in its scope by sub. (7).

AB375,16,11 (b) No city or village may issue any bonds for any purposes other than for waterworks, lighting works, gas works, bridges, street lighting, street improvements, street improvement funding, hospitals, airports, harbor improvements, river improvements, breakwaters and protection piers, sewerage, garbage disposal, rubbish or refuse disposal, any combination of sewage, garbage or refuse or rubbish disposal, parks and public grounds, swimming pools and band shells thereon, veterans housing projects, paying the municipality's portion of the cost of abolishing grade crossings, for the construction of police facilities and combined fire and police safety buildings, for the purchase of sites for engine houses, for fire engines and other equipment of the fire department, for construction of engine houses, and for pumps, water mains, reservoirs and all other reasonable facilities for fire protection apparatus or equipment for fire protection, for parking lots or other parking facilities, for school purposes, for libraries, for buildings for the housing of machinery and equipment, for acquiring and developing sites for industry and commerce as will expand the municipal tax base, for financing the cost of low-interest mortgage loans under s. 66.38, for providing financial assistance to blight elimination, slum clearance, community development, redevelopment and urban renewal programs and projects under ss. 66.405 to 66.425, 66.43, 66.431, 66.4325, 66.435 and 66.46 or for university of Wisconsin system centers until the proposition for their issue for the special purpose thereof has been submitted to the electors of the city or village and adopted by a majority vote. Except as provided under sub. (15), if the common council of any city or the village board of any village declares its purpose to raise money by issuing bonds for any purpose other than those above specified, it shall direct by resolution, which shall be recorded at length in the record of its proceedings, the clerk to call a special election referendum in accordance with s. 8.065 for the purpose of submitting the question of bonding to the city or village electors. If a number of electors of a city or village equal to at least 15% of the votes cast for governor at the last general election in their city or village sign and file a petition conforming to the requirements of s. 8.40 with the city or village clerk requesting submission of the resolution, the city or village may not issue bonds for financing the cost of low-interest mortgage loans under s. 66.38 without calling a special election to submit the question of bonding to unless the issuance is approved by the city or village electors for their approval at a referendum called in accordance with s. 8.065.

AB375, s. 32 Section 32. 67.05 (6a) (a) 2. a. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,16,19 67.05 (6a) (a) 2. a. Direct the school district clerk to call a special election referendum in accordance with s. 8.065 for the purpose of submitting the resolution to the electors for approval or rejection, or direct that the resolution be submitted at the next regularly scheduled primary or election permitted under s. 8.065 to be held not earlier than 45 days after the adoption of the resolution. The resolution shall not be effective unless adopted by a majority of the school district electors voting at the referendum.

AB375, s. 33 Section 33. 67.05 (6m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,17,2 67.05 (6m) (b) If a referendum is to be held on an initial resolution, the district board shall direct the technical college district secretary to call a special election referendum in accordance with s. 8.065 for the purpose of submitting the initial resolution to the electors for a referendum on approval or rejection. In lieu of a special election, the district board may specify that the election be held at the next succeeding spring primary or election or September primary or general election.

AB375, s. 34 Section 34. 67.10 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,17,7 67.10 (5) (b) Any city having voted approved the issuance of bonds at a special referendum election held in accordance with s. 8.065 and having sold a portion thereof may negotiate, sell or otherwise dispose of the same in the manner provided by statute within nine years of the date of the election voting the same.

AB375, s. 35 Section 35. 67.12 (12) (e) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,18,18 67.12 (12) (e) 5. Within 10 days of the adoption by a technical college district board of a resolution under subd. 1. to issue a promissory note for a purpose under s. 38.16 (2), the secretary of the district board shall publish a notice of such adoption as a class 1 notice, under ch. 985. The notice need not set forth the full contents of the resolution, but shall state the amount proposed to be borrowed, the method of borrowing, the purpose thereof, that the resolution was adopted under this subsection and the place where and the hours during which the resolution is available for public inspection. If the amount proposed to be borrowed is for building remodeling or improvement and does not exceed $500,000 or is for movable equipment, the district board need not submit the resolution to the electors for approval unless, within 30 days after the publication or posting, a petition conforming to the requirements of s. 8.40 is filed with the secretary of the district board requesting a referendum at a special election to be called for that purpose. Such petition shall be signed by electors from each county lying wholly or partially within the district. The number of electors from each county shall equal at least 1.5% of the population of the county as determined under s. 16.96 (2) (c). If a county lies in more than one district, the technical college system board shall apportion the county's population as determined under s. 16.96 (2) (c) to the districts involved and the petition shall be signed by electors equal to the appropriate percentage of the apportioned population. In lieu of a special election, the district board may specify that the referendum shall be held at the next succeeding spring primary or election or September primary or general election. Any resolution to borrow amounts of money in excess of $500,000 for building remodeling or improvement shall be submitted to the electors of the district for approval. Any referendum under this subdivision shall be called at the next election authorized under s. 8.065 occurring not sooner than 45 days after filing of a petition or adoption of a resolution requiring the referendum. If a referendum is held or required under this subdivision, no promissory note may be issued until the issuance is approved by a majority of the district electors voting at such referendum. The referendum shall be noticed, called and conducted under s. 67.05 (6a) insofar as applicable, except that the notice of special election referendum and ballot need not embody a copy of the resolution and the question which shall appear on the ballot shall be "Shall .... (name of district) be authorized to borrow the sum of $.... for (state purpose) by issuing its general obligation promissory note (or notes) under section 67.12 (12) of the Wisconsin Statutes?".

AB375, s. 36 Section 36. 81.01 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,18,24 81.01 (3) (b) The town board by resolution submits to the electors of the town as a referendum at a general or special town an election specified in s. 8.065 the question of exceeding the $10,000 limit set under this subsection. The board shall abide by the majority vote of the electors of the town on the question. The question shall read as follows:

AB375,19,2 Shall the town of ... spend $... over the annual limit of $10,000 for the construction and repair of its highways and bridges?

AB375,19,3 FOR SPENDING ⍽ AGAINST SPENDING ⍽

AB375, s. 37 Section 37. 86.21 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,20,4 86.21 (2) (a) Before any such toll bridge is constructed or acquired under this section, a resolution authorizing the construction or acquisition thereof, and specifying the method of payment therefor, shall be adopted by a majority of the members of the governing body of such county, town, village or city at a regular meeting, after publication of said resolution, as a class 2 notice, under ch. 985. The resolution shall include a general description of the property it is proposed to acquire or construct. Any county, town, village or city constructing or acquiring a toll bridge under this section may provide for the payment of the same or any part thereof from the general fund, from taxation, or from the proceeds of either municipal bonds, revenue bonds or as otherwise provided by law. Such resolution shall not be effective until 15 days after its passage and publication. If within said 15 days a petition conforming to the requirements of s. 8.40 is filed with the clerk of such municipality signed by at least 20% of the electors thereof requesting that the question of acquiring such toll bridge be submitted to the said electors, such question shall be submitted at any general or regular municipal the next election specified in s. 8.065 that may be is held not less sooner than 10 nor more than 40 45 days from the date of filing such petition. In case no such general or regular municipal election is to be held within such stated period, then the governing body of such municipality shall order a special election to be held within 30 days from the filing of such petition upon the question of whether such toll bridge shall be acquired by said municipality. The question submitted to the electors shall specify the method of payment for such toll bridge as provided in the resolution for the acquisition thereof. If no such petition is filed, or if the majority of votes cast at such referendum election are in favor of the acquisition of such toll bridge, then the resolution of the governing body for the acquisition of such toll bridge shall be in effect.

AB375, s. 38 Section 38. 117.20 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,20,10 117.20 Referendum procedures. (1) If a referendum is required under ss. 117.08 to 117.11, it shall be held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November at the next general election to be held not sooner than 45 days following receipt of the petition or adoption of the resolution under s. 117.08 (3) (a), 117.09 (3) (a), 117.10 (3) (a) or 117.11 (4) (a).

AB375,20,21 (2) The clerk of each affected school district shall publish notice, as required under s. 8.55 10.06 (4), in the territory of that school district. The procedures for school board elections under s. 120.06 (5), (9), (11), (13) and (14) apply to a referendum held under this section. The school board and school district clerk of each affected school district shall each perform, for that school district, the functions assigned to the school board and the school district clerk, respectively, under those subsections. The form of the ballot shall correspond to the form prescribed by the elections board under ss. 5.64 (2) and 7.08 (1) (a). The clerk of each affected school district shall file with the secretary of the board a certified statement prepared by the school district board of canvassers of the results of the referendum in that school district.

AB375, s. 39 Section 39. 119.48 (4) (b) and (c) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB375,21,2 119.48 (4) (b) The communication shall state the purposes for which the funds from the increase in the levy rate will be used and shall request the common council to submit to the voters of the city the question of exceeding the levy rate specified in s. 65.07 (1) (f) at the September election or a special an election specified in s. 8.065.

AB375,21,13 (c) Upon receipt of the communication, the common council shall cause the question of exceeding the levy rate specified under s. 65.07 (1) (f) to be submitted to the voters of the city at the September election or at a special next election specified in s. 8.065 to be held not sooner than 45 days after receipt of the communication. The question of exceeding the levy rate specified under s. 65.07 (1) (f) shall be submitted upon a separate ballot or in some other manner so that the vote upon exceeding the levy rate specified in s. 65.07 (1) (f) is taken separately from any other question submitted to the voters. If a majority of the electors voting on the question favors exceeding the levy rate specified under s. 65.07 (1) (f), the common council shall approve the increase in the levy rate and shall levy and collect a tax equal to the amount of money approved by the electors.

AB375, s. 40 Section 40. 119.49 (1) (b) and (2) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB375,21,20 119.49 (1) (b) The communication shall state the amount of funds needed under par. (a) and the purposes for which the funds will be used and shall request the common council to submit to the voters of the city at the next election specified in s. 8.065 to be held in the city not sooner than 45 days after receipt of the communication the question of issuing school bonds in the amount and for the purposes stated in the communication.

AB375,22,6 (2) Upon receipt of the communication, the common council shall cause the question of issuing such school bonds in the stated amount and for the stated school purposes to be submitted to the voters of the city at the next election held in the city specified in s. 8.065 that occurs not sooner than 45 days after the date of receipt of the communication. The question of issuing such school bonds shall be submitted upon a separate ballot or in some other manner so that the vote upon issuing such school bonds is taken separately from any other question submitted to the voters. If a majority of the electors voting on the school bond question favors issuing such school bonds, the common council shall cause the school bonds to be issued immediately or within the period permitted by law, in the amount requested by the board and in the manner other bonds are issued.

AB375, s. 41 Section 41. 121.91 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,22,20 121.91 (3) (a) If a school board wishes to exceed the limit under sub. (1), (2) or (2m) otherwise applicable to the school district in any school year, it shall promptly adopt a resolution supporting inclusion in the final school district budget of an amount equal to the proposed excess revenue. The resolution shall specify whether the proposed excess revenue is for a recurring or nonrecurring purpose, or, if the proposed excess revenue is for both recurring and nonrecurring purposes, the amount of the proposed excess revenue for each purpose. The school board shall call a special referendum in accordance with s. 8.065 for the purpose of submitting the resolution to the electors of the school district for approval or rejection. In lieu of a special referendum, the school board may specify that the referendum be held at the next succeeding spring primary or election or September primary or general election, if such election is, to be held not earlier sooner than 35 days after the adoption of the resolution of the school board.

AB375, s. 42 Section 42. 197.04 (1) and (2) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB375,23,18 197.04 (1) Any municipality having determined to acquire an existing plant or any part of the equipment of a public utility may discontinue all proceedings to that end at any time within 90 days after the final determination of compensation by the commission, by a vote of the electors as herein provided, or by a resolution to that effect by its municipal council, provided that such resolution shall not be of force and effect until 90 days after its passage and publication. If within either of said 90-day periods a petition conforming to the requirements of s. 8.40 shall be filed with the clerk of such municipality, in a city of the first class signed by 5% and in all other municipalities by 10% of the electors thereof, requesting that the question of discontinuing said proceeding to acquire such plant or equipment be submitted to the electors, such question shall be submitted to the said electors at any general or regular municipal the succeeding election specified in s. 8.065 that may be is held not less than 30, and not more than 35, days from the date of the filing of the petition; and if no general election or regular municipal election is to be held within the stated periods, then the governing body of the municipality shall order the holding of a special election for the purpose of submitting to the electors in case. If the petition is filed before the adoption of such resolution the question submitted shall be whether said proceedings shall be discontinued, and in case if the petition is filed after the adoption of said resolution the question submitted shall be whether the aforesaid resolution shall remain in effect and its adoption be ratified, and such resolution shall not have force or effect unless a majority of the electors voting on such question shall be in favor thereof.

AB375,24,2 (2) The municipal council may provide for the notice, the manner of holding such election and the method of voting thereon and of making returns thereof and the canvassing and determining of the result thereof; provided, that notice of the submission of the question contemplated herein to the electors shall be given by a brief notice of that fact once a week for three weeks in some newspaper of general circulation published in the municipality, and if there be no such newspaper then publication may be made in any newspaper of general circulation in the county seat of the county wherein the municipality is located. The notice of holding any special election shall be incorporated as a part of the aforesaid notice.

AB375, s. 43 Section 43. 197.10 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,24,15 197.10 (2) Such contract when adopted by the common council of said city and accepted by the owner or owners of such public utility shall be submitted to the public service commission for its approval and upon such approval the same shall be submitted in such manner as the common council shall determine to a vote of the electors of such city at the next regular municipal election or at a special election called for that purpose specified in s. 8.065 to be held not sooner than 45 days after approval of the commission, and such contract shall not become binding upon such city until approved by a majority vote of the qualified electors of such city voting thereon. No bonds shall in any case be issued by said city under the contract or contracts mentioned in sub. (1), until the proposition of their issue shall have been submitted to the people of such city and adopted by a majority of the electors voting thereon.

AB375, s. 44 Section 44. 198.19 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,25,6 198.19 (1) Any territory, constituting one or more municipalities contiguous to a district may be annexed to and become a part of such district to all intents and purposes and with like effect as though originally included therein upon such terms and conditions as the board of directors of the district shall fix by ordinance adopted by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the directors-elect, provided that before such ordinance becomes effective the same shall be accepted and ratified by the affirmative vote of a majority of the qualified electors entitled to vote and voting in a special election referendum called and held for that purpose, in accordance with s. 8.065, in each municipality proposed in such ordinance to be annexed to the district. Such ordinance shall be published and such election shall be noticed, held and conducted, as nearly as may be, in the manner provided by this chapter for the noticing, holding and conduct of elections upon the organization of a municipal power district, except that the returns of such election and the ballots therein shall be delivered to the clerk of the district. The results of said election shall be canvassed publicly by the directors of the district.

AB375, s. 45 Section 45. Initial applicability.

AB375,25,9 (1)  This act first applies with respect to referenda called on the effective date of this subsection.

AB375,25,10 (End)