SB777,34 7Section 34. 59.42 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 59.42 (1) and amended
8to read:
SB777,21,159 59.42 (1) Corporation counsel; certain counties. Except as provided under
10par. (b), in counties not having a population of 500,000 or more sub. (2), the board may
11employ a corporation counsel, and fix the salary of the corporation counsel. A
12corporation counsel appointed under this subsection shall have the duties described
13under sub. (2) (b).
The corporation counsel appointed under this paragraph
14subsection may be terminated at any time by a majority vote of all the members of
15the board.
SB777,35 16Section 35. 59.42 (1) (b) and (c) of the statutes are repealed.
SB777,36 17Section 36. 59.42 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB777,22,1818 59.42 (2) (a) In a county with a population of 500,000 or more county executive
19or county administrator
there is created the office of corporation counsel, and such
20deputy corporation counsels, assistants, stenographers, and clerks at such salaries
21as are authorized by the board or county executive under s. 59.17 (2) (e). The
22corporation counsel and deputy and assistant corporation counsels shall be
23attorneys at law licensed to practice in this state. All such offices and positions shall
24may be in the classified civil service of the county except the corporation counsel, who
25is in the unclassified service. The corporation counsel shall be appointed by the

1county executive, with the concurrence of a majority of the board and shall not serve
2at the pleasure of the county executive. Any incumbent corporation counsel serving
3on August 1, 1990, shall retain that position and title until a new appointee is
4confirmed by the board. The corporation counsel may be dismissed at any time by
5the county executive with the concurrence of a majority of the members-elect of the
6board. The corporation counsel may also be dismissed at any time by a majority vote
7of the board. If the county executive vetoes an action by the board to dismiss the
8corporation counsel, the board may override the veto by a two-thirds vote of the
9members-elect of the board.
The county executive or county administrator shall
10appoint the corporation counsel with the concurrence of the majority of the board,
11unless the board enacts an ordinance that waives the board's confirmation of the
12corporation counsel. The county executive or county administrator shall supervise
13the corporation counsel and may dismiss the corporation counsel with the
14concurrence of the majority of the board.
The corporation counsel shall appoint
15deputies, assistants, and clerical and stenographic help. Deputy corporation
16counsels shall have, according to their rank and seniority, the powers and duties of
17the corporation counsel in his or her absence or disability. The corporation counsel
18and deputy corporation counsels shall take and file the constitutional oath of office.
SB777,37 19Section 37. 59.42 (2) (b) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB777,22,2320 59.42 (2) (b) 5. Review, for proper form, and countersign all contracts to verify
21that the contracts comply with all statutes, rules, ordinances, and the county's ethics
22policy. This subdivision applies only in a county with a population of 750,000 or more
,
23the value of which exceeds $250,000
.
SB777,38 24Section 38. 59.42 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB777,23,8
159.42 (3) Corporation counsel; attorney designee. In lieu of employing a
2corporation counsel under sub. (1) or in addition to employing a corporation counsel
3under sub. (1) or (2) (a), a board shall under sub. (1) or a county executive or county
4administrator under sub. (2) may
designate an attorney to perform the duties of a
5corporation counsel as the need arises. Two or more counties may jointly designate
6an attorney to perform the duties of a corporation counsel. If an attorney has been
7designated to perform the duties of a corporation counsel, that person may exercise
8any powers and perform any duties of the corporation counsel.
SB777,39 9Section 39. 59.44 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB777,23,1710 59.44 (1) (b) In any county with a county executive or a county administrator,
11if the county creates an abstract department under par. (a), the county executive or
12county administrator shall appoint and supervise the county abstractor. Such
13appointment shall be subject to confirmation by the board unless the board, by
14ordinance, elects to waive confirmation or unless the appointment is made under a
15civil service system competitive examination procedure established under s. 59.52
16(8) or ch. 63, and except that in the case of a county with a population of at least
17750,000, the appointment is subject to the provisions of s. 59.17 (2) (b) 1
.
SB777,40 18Section 40. 59.51 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 59.51 (1) (a).
SB777,41 19Section 41. 59.51 (1) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
SB777,23,2420 59.51 (1) (b) Any power conferred under this chapter to a county executive or
21county administrator shall be broadly and liberally construed and limited only by
22express language. To the extent that an action of the board conflicts with the powers
23of the county executive or the county administrator, the action of the executive or
24administrator, to the extent of the conflict, shall prevail.
SB777,42 25Section 42. 59.52 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB777,24,12
159.52 (1) (a) In counties with a population of 500,000 or more, the county may
2create a department of administration, provide for the appointment by the county
3executive of a director of such department and assign such administrative functions
4to the department as it considers appropriate, subject to the limitations of this
5paragraph. No such function shall be assigned to the department where the
6performance of the same by some other county office, department , or commission is
7required by any provision of the constitution or statutes of this state, except that
8administrative functions under the jurisdiction of the county civil service
9commission or the county auditor may be so assigned notwithstanding sub. (8) and
10ss. 59.47, 59.60 and 63.01 to 63.17. Such director shall be appointed by the county
11executive in the unclassified civil service and is subject to confirmation by the county
12board, as provided in s. 59.17 (2) (bm)
the provisions of s. 59.17 (2) (b) 1.
SB777,43 13Section 43. 59.52 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB777,25,414 59.52 (1) (b) Any county with a population of less than 500,000 may create a
15department of administration and assign any administrative function to the
16department as it considers appropriate, except that no administrative function may
17be assigned to the department if any other provision of state law requires the
18performance of the function by any other county office, department or commission
19unless the administrative function is under the jurisdiction of the county civil service
20commission or the county auditor, in which case, the function may be assigned to the
21department notwithstanding sub. (8) and ss. 59.47, 59.60 and 63.01 to 63.17. Except
22as provided under par. (a), in any county with a county executive or county
23administrator, the county executive or county administrator shall have the authority
24to appoint and supervise the head of a department of administration; and except as
25provided under par. (a), the appointment is subject to confirmation by the county

1board unless the appointment is made under a civil service system competitive
2examination procedure established under sub. (8) or ch. 63, and except that in the
3case of a county with a population of at least 750,000, the appointment is subject to
4the provisions of s. 59.17 (2) (b) 1
.
SB777,44 5Section 44. 59.52 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB777,25,76 59.52 (3m) Public contracts. (a) In this subsection, “contract” means any
7agreement to which the county is a party that relates to at least one of these areas:
SB777,25,88 1. The purchase of services.
SB777,25,99 2. The purchase of supplies.
SB777,25,1010 3. The sale or purchase of real property.
SB777,25,1111 4. The lease as tenant or landlord of real property.
SB777,25,1212 5. Construction and public works.
SB777,25,1713 (b) In any county with an elective comptroller, the comptroller shall post,
14monthly, on a county Internet site a list of all contracts in excess of $5,000. The
15county executive shall timely provide copies of all contracts to the comptroller. The
16site shall be readily accessible by any member of the pubic. The site may be part of
17the county's website.
SB777,45 18Section 45. 59.52 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB777,26,419 59.52 (9) Purchasing agent. The board county executive may appoint a person
20or committee as county purchasing agent, and provide compensation for their
21services, except that if the county does not have a county executive, the board may
22perform this function
. Any county officer or supervisor may be the agent or a
23committee member. The purchasing agent shall provide all supplies and equipment
24procurement and contracting as provided under sub. (3m) and s. 59.17 (2) (d) for the
25various county offices and the board chairperson shall promptly sign orders in

1payment therefor
. The board county executive may require that all purchases
2procurement and contracting be made in the manner determined by it he or she
3determines, except that if the county does not have a county executive, the board may
4perform this function
.
SB777,46 5Section 46. 59.52 (19) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB777,26,86 59.52 (19) Donations, gifts and grants. The board county executive may
7accept donations, gifts or grants for any public governmental purpose within the
8powers of the county.
SB777,47 9Section 47. 59.52 (21) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB777,26,1410 59.52 (21) County commissions. Except in counties having a population of
11500,000 or more, the board county executive may fix and pay the compensation of
12members of the county park commission and the county planning and zoning
13commission for attendance at meetings at a rate not to exceed the compensation
14permitted supervisors.
SB777,48 15Section 48. 59.52 (24) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB777,26,2416 59.52 (24) Parking areas. The board may enact ordinances establishing county
17executive in any county with a population of at least 750,000 may establish by
18directive
areas for parking of vehicles on lands owned or leased by the county; for
19regulating or prohibiting parking of vehicles on such areas or parts of such areas,
20including, but not limited to, provision for parking in such areas or parts thereof for
21only certain purposes or by only certain personnel; for forfeitures for violations
22thereof, but not to exceed $50 for each offense; and for the enforcement of such
23ordinances directives. In all other counties, the board may perform these functions
24by enacting ordinances
.
SB777,49 25Section 49. 59.52 (29) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB777,27,17
159.52 (29) (a) All Except as provided in par. (am), all public work, including any
2contract for the construction, repair, remodeling or improvement of any public work,
3building, or furnishing of supplies or material of any kind where the estimated cost
4of such work will exceed $25,000 shall be let by contract to the lowest responsible
5bidder. Any public work, the estimated cost of which does not exceed $25,000, shall
6be let as the board may direct. If the estimated cost of any public work is between
7$5,000 and $25,000, the board shall give a class 1 notice under ch. 985 before it
8contracts for the work or shall contract with a person qualified as a bidder under s.
966.0901 (2). A contract, the estimated cost of which exceeds $25,000, shall be let and
10entered into under s. 66.0901, except that the board may by a three-fourths vote of
11all the members entitled to a seat provide that any class of public work or any part
12thereof may be done directly by the county without submitting the same for bids.
13This subsection paragraph does not apply to public construction if the materials for
14such a project are donated or if the labor for such a project is provided by volunteers.
15This subsection paragraph does not apply to highway contracts which the county
16highway committee or the county highway commissioner is authorized by law to let
17or make.
SB777,50 18Section 50. 59.52 (29) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
SB777,28,1019 59.52 (29) (am) In a county with a population of at least 750,000, all public
20work, including any contract for the construction, repair, remodeling or
21improvement of any public work, building, or furnishing of supplies or material of
22any kind where the estimated cost of such work will exceed $50,000 shall be let by
23contract to the lowest responsible bidder. Any public work, the estimated cost of
24which does not exceed $50,000, shall be let as the county executive may direct. If the
25estimated cost of any public work is between $5,000 and $50,000, the county

1executive shall give a class 1 notice under ch. 985 before he or she contracts for the
2work or shall contract with a person qualified as a bidder under s. 66.0901 (2). A
3contract, the estimated cost of which exceeds $25,000, shall be let and entered into
4under s. 66.0901, except that the county executive may provide that any class of
5public work or any part of such work may be done directly by the county without
6submitting the same for bids. This paragraph does not apply to public construction
7if the materials for such a project are donated or if the labor for such a project is
8provided by volunteers. This paragraph does not apply to highway contracts that the
9county highway committee or the county highway commissioner is authorized by law
10to let or make.
SB777,51 11Section 51. 59.52 (31) of the statutes is repealed.
SB777,52 12Section 52. 59.53 (25) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB777,28,1613 59.53 (25) Milwaukee County mental health. The Milwaukee County board
14has no jurisdiction and may not take any actions, including under ss. 59.52 (6) and
15(31)
, 66.0301, and 66.0607 (2), related to mental health functions, programs, and
16services.
SB777,53 17Section 53. 59.56 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB777,28,2518 59.56 (3) (b) Committee on agriculture and extension education. If a board
19establishes a university extension program, it shall create a committee on
20agriculture and extension education. The board may select as a member of the
21committee any public school administrator resident in the county. The members of
22the committee shall receive such compensation and expenses as the board or county
23executive
determines under s. 59.22 (2) (c) and (3). The committee shall meet at such
24intervals as are considered necessary to properly carry out its functions and
25responsibilities.
SB777,54
1Section 54. 59.56 (14) (e) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB777,29,32 59.56 (14) (e) 1. Acquire by deed or lease real estate and make improvements
3on such real estate.
SB777,55 4Section 55. 59.57 (2) (e) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB777,29,175 59.57 (2) (e) 4. The articles of incorporation shall provide for 2 classes of
6members who shall be designated as county members and public members and shall
7fix the number of each class, but the county members, at all times, shall constitute
8not less than a majority of the total authorized members. All members of each class
9shall be designated by the board and shall hold office at the pleasure of the board,
10except that in counties having a county executive, the members shall be designated
11by the county executive subject to confirmation by the board and subject to the
12confirmation provisions of s. 59.17 (2) (b) 1., and such members serve at the pleasure
13of the county executive
. The agency shall be subject to dissolution and its corporate
14authority terminated upon resolution adopted by a majority of the board, or of the
15boards of each county where counties join in the formation of the agency whereupon
16the members shall proceed immediately to dissolve the agency, wind up its affairs
17and distribute its remaining assets as provided in this subsection.
SB777,56 18Section 56. 59.57 (2) (f) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB777,30,219 59.57 (2) (f) 2. Within the boundaries of the county or the counties joining in
20the formation of the agency to acquire by purchase, lease or otherwise any real or
21personal property or any interest therein or mortgage or other lien thereon; to hold,
22improve, clear and redevelop any such property; to sell, assign, lease, subdivide and
23make the property available for industrial use and to mortgage or otherwise
24encumber the property, except that the authority to enter into a lease under this

1subdivision may be exercised only by the county executive, if the county has such an
2office
.
SB777,57 3Section 57. 59.58 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB777,30,84 59.58 (1) (c) Operate airport projects or lease such projects in their entirety or
5in part, and any project may include space designed for leasing to others if the space
6is incidental to the purposes of the project, except that the authority to enter into a
7lease under this paragraph may be exercised only by the county executive, if the
8county has such an office
.
SB777,58 9Section 58. 59.58 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB777,30,1210 59.58 (3) Public transit in counties. (intro.) A board may do any of the
11following, except that the authority to enter into a lease under this subsection may
12be exercised only by the county executive, if the county has such an office
:
SB777,59 13Section 59. 59.60 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB777,30,1714 59.60 (1) Application. The Except as provided in s. 59.602, the provisions of
15this section shall apply to all counties with a population of 500,000 750,000 or more.
16Except as provided in sub. (13), any Any county with a county executive or county
17administrator may elect to be subject to the provisions of this section.
SB777,60 18Section 60. 59.60 (12) of the statutes is renumbered 59.60 (12) (a) and
19amended to read:
SB777,31,1120 59.60 (12) (a) No Subject to par. (b), no payment may be authorized or made
21and no obligation incurred against the county unless the county has sufficient
22appropriations for payment. No Subject to par. (b), no payment may be made or
23obligation incurred against an appropriation unless the director first certifies that
24a sufficient unencumbered balance is or will be available in the appropriation to
25make the payment or to meet the obligation when it becomes due and payable. An

1obligation incurred and an authorization of payment in violation of this subsection
2is void, except as provided in par. (b). A county officer who knowingly violates this
3subsection is jointly and severally liable to the county for the full amount paid. A
4county employee who knowingly violates this subsection may be removed for cause.
5This subsection does not prohibit contracting for capital improvements being
6financed wholly or partly by the issuance of bonds or prevent the making of a contract
7or lease providing for the payment of funds at a time beyond the end of the fiscal year
8in which the contract or lease is made. The Subject to par. (b), the board shall make
9or approve by resolution each contract, lease or other obligation requiring the
10payment of funds from the appropriations of a later fiscal year or of more than one
11fiscal year.
SB777,61 12Section 61. 59.60 (12) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
SB777,31,1513 59.60 (12) (b) With regard to payments and obligations, and multi-year
14contracts, described under par. (a) that would otherwise be prohibited, such
15contracts may be validly entered into if at least one of the following applies:
SB777,31,2316 1. A contract requires funding from a future unbudgeted fiscal year and the
17contract contains a clause stating that the payment and performance obligation for
18a future fiscal year is subject to availability and appropriation of funds, and that if
19an appropriation is not available to fund the terms of the contract for the duration
20of the contract, the contract shall be null and void on the last day on which the
21appropriation to fund the contract is available. With regard to such a contract, board
22approval of a multi-year contract is not necessary for the contract to take effect if it
23is signed by the county executive.
SB777,32,324 2. The board approves a budget that is signed by the county executive and
25contains a continuing appropriation to fully fund a multi-year contract. The board

1need not approve the contract more than once for the contract to remain valid
2throughout the period during which it is fully funded by the continuing
3appropriation.
SB777,62 4Section 62. 59.60 (12) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
SB777,32,65 59.60 (12) (c) The provisions of this subsection apply to budgets adopted under
6this section and s. 59.602.
SB777,63 7Section 63. 59.602 of the statutes is created to read:
SB777,32,10 859.602 Alternative budget process in certain counties. (1) Application.
9(a) Subject to par. (b), the provisions of this section may be used by any county,
10including a county with a population of 750,000 or more.
SB777,32,1211 (b) To use the provisions of this section, a county must take one of the following
12actions:
SB777,32,1713 1. If the county has a county executive or administrator, the county executive
14or administrator must issue a written proclamation stating that the county will use
15the provisions of this section. Once the proclamation is issued, it takes effect. No
16action by the county board is needed for the proclamation to take effect, and no
17county board action may stop or repeal the proclamation.
SB777,32,1918 2. In any other county, the board must adopt a resolution proclaiming that the
19county will use the provisions of this section.
SB777,32,20 20(2) Definitions. In this section:
SB777,33,221 (a) “Budget director” means the officer or employee of a county, other than the
22county executive, county administrator, or county administrative coordinator, who
23is principally responsible for developing and coordinating a county's budget, except
24that if the county's executive, administrator, or administrative coordinator is

1principally responsible for developing and coordinating a county's budget, that
2individual is the budget director.
SB777,33,53 (b) “Department" includes all county departments, boards, commissions,
4institutions, offices, and other agencies of the county government for which funds
5may be legally appropriated.
SB777,33,66 (c) “Director" means the director of the county department of administration.
SB777,33,7 7(3) Fiscal year. The fiscal year in every county is the calendar year.
SB777,33,11 8(4) Accounting and budgeting procedure. Every accounting and budgeting
9procedure that is applied under this section shall comply with generally accepted
10accounting principles for government as promulgated by the governmental
11accounting standards board or its successor bodies or other authoritative sources.
SB777,35,2 12(5) Publication of budget and public hearing. The board shall refer the
13executive's or administrator's budget to the finance committee and such committee
14shall publish as a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, a summary of the executive's or
15administrator's budget and comparative figures together with a statement of the
16county's bonded indebtedness, and shall make available to the general public
17reprinted copies of the summary as published. The publication shall also state the
18date, hour, and place of the public hearing to be held by the board on such executive's
19or administrator's budget. The board shall, not less than 14 days after publication
20of the summary of the executive's or administrator's budget, and prior to the adoption
21of the property tax levy, hold a public hearing on such executive's or administrator's
22budget, at which time county residents may appear and express their opinions. After
23such public hearing, and on or before the annual meeting, the finance committee
24shall submit to the board its recommendations for amendments to the executive's or
25administrator's budget, if any, and the board shall adopt the budget with such

1changes as it considers proper and advisable. A request for an amendment to the
2budget must be submitted to the comptroller or budget director at least 7 business
3days before the amendment may be considered by the board or by a committee of the
4board, and the board or committee may not consider any amendment which is not
5submitted in conformity with this time frame. Any amendment to the budget shall
6include an estimate, prepared by the comptroller, of the costs that will be incurred,
7and the staffing changes that will be required, to implement the amendment during
8the next 5 fiscal years. If a county does not have a comptroller, the estimate shall be
9prepared by the county's budget director. The board shall make the amendment and
10the estimate available to the public, in an electronic format, at least 24 hours before
11the amendment may be considered by the board or by a committee of the board. The
12board shall have the budget resolution prepared as it was adopted by the board,
13incorporating any adopted amendments, before presenting the resolution to the
14executive. Subject to sub. (6), the board of a county with a population of at least
15750,000 may not adopt a budget in which the total amount of budgeted expenditures
16related to the compensation of county board members, and to any other costs that are
17directly related to the operation and functioning of the county board or committees
18of the board, including staff, is greater than 0.4 percent of the county portion of the
19tax levy for that year to which the budget applies. The board of a county with a
20population of at least 750,000 may not adopt a budget that alters any formula by
21which fringe benefits, interdepartmental charges for services, depreciation, or debt
22service are allocated in the executive's budget. An appropriation that is contingent
23upon additional approval by the board after the adoption of the budget is included
24in the 0.4 percent budget limitation described in this subsection. When so adopted,

1the sums provided shall, subject to the provisions of sub. (7), constitute legal
2appropriations and anticipated revenues for the ensuing year.
SB777,35,5 3(6) Milwaukee County budget cap. The 0.4 percent budget limitation for a
4county with a population of at least 750,000 that is described in sub. (5) does not
5apply to any of the following elements of the county's budget:
SB777,35,76 (a) Any costs related to pension and health care payments for retired county
7officers, employees, and their families.
SB777,35,108 (b) The costs for the salary, health benefits, and pension benefits of county
9board supervisors and the county board chairperson for any term that begins before
10April 2018.
SB777,35,1211 (c) Any costs associated with duties performed by the county clerk under s.
1259.23 (2).
SB777,35,1313 (d) Any costs associated with a department created under s. 59.52 (32).
SB777,35,1414 (e) Space rental that is attributable to the county board.
SB777,35,24 15(7) Transfers of appropriations. (a) At the request of the head of any
16department, and after receiving the recommendation of the county executive or
17county administrator, the director shall, at any time during the fiscal year, transfer
18any unencumbered appropriation balance or portion thereof between principal
19objects of expenditures within a department; but no transfers shall be made of
20appropriations originating from bond funds unless the purpose for which the bonds
21were issued has been fulfilled or abandoned. If more than one department is under
22the jurisdiction of the same board or commission or under the same general
23management, the group of departments may be considered as though they were a
24single unit with respect to transfers of appropriations within the group.
SB777,36,6
1(b) Upon the recommendation of the finance committee in a county without a
2county executive or county administrator, or upon the recommendation of the county
3executive or county administrator in other counties, and by resolution adopted by a
4majority of the members present and voting at any meeting, the board may transfer
5any unencumbered appropriation balance or portion thereof from one department or
6account to another.
SB777,36,87 (c) 1. Paragraph (b) does not apply to an appropriation which is irrepealable
8by law.
SB777,36,119 2. The board may not amend a recommendation under par. (b) to increase the
10amount to be transferred or to transfer funds to a department other than the
11department designated as the transferee in the recommendation.
SB777,36,1312 3. No transfer may be made under this subsection unless the director certifies
13that sufficient unencumbered funds are available for transfer.
SB777,36,16 14(8) Budgetary procedures, beyond 2017. (a) For fiscal years that begin after
15December 31, 2017, a county that chooses under sub. (1) (b) to operate under this
16section shall adopt a budget that contains the provisions specified in this section.
SB777,36,2017 (b) Beginning in 2017, and in every odd-numbered year thereafter, a county
18shall adopt a biennial budget following the timeline specified in par. (c) that sets forth
19all of the following items, and no others, for the 2 fiscal years that immediately follow
20the year in which the budget is adopted:
SB777,36,2121 1. The county tax levy.
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