AB375: Bill Text

1995 - 1996 LEGISLATURE

1995 Assembly BILL 375

May 16, 1995 - Introduced by Representatives Skindrud, Powers, Walker, Freese, Ainsworth, Brandemuehl, Foti, Gard, Goetsch, Hahn, Handrick, Hanson, Kreibich, Ladwig, Lehman, Owens, Silbaugh, Underheim, Ward and Zukowski, cosponsored by Senators Fitzgerald, Drzewiecki, Zien and Farrow. Referred to Committee on Elections and Constitutional Law.

AB375,1,9 An Act to repeal 5.02 (20r), 5.65, 8.55 and 10.06 (4) (f); to amend 7.03 (1) (bm), 7.15 (2) (d), 8.05 (3) (d) and (e), 8.06, 9.20 (4), 10.01 (2) (d) and (e), 24.66 (3) (b), 24.66 (4), 32.72 (1), 59.997 (7), 60.62 (2), 60.74 (5) (b), 61.187 (1), 61.46 (1), 62.09 (1) (a), 64.03 (1), 64.39 (3), 66.01 (8), 66.059 (2m) (b), 66.061 (1) (c), 66.075 (5), 66.504 (2), 66.521 (10) (d), 66.77 (3) (a) 1., 66.94 (4), 67.05 (4) and (5), 67.05 (6a) (a) 2. a., 67.05 (6m) (b), 67.10 (5) (b), 67.12 (12) (e) 5., 81.01 (3) (b), 86.21 (2) (a), 117.20, 119.48 (4) (b) and (c), 119.49 (1) (b) and (2), 121.91 (3) (a), 197.04 (1) and (2), 197.10 (2) and 198.19 (1); and to create 8.065 of the statutes; relating to: scheduling of referenda by local governments.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, referenda are authorized or required to be held by local governments under various laws for various purposes. In some cases, these referenda are authorized or required to be held at special elections when no offices appear on the ballot. In most cases, there is no limitation upon the frequency that questions relating to the same subject matter may be submitted.

This bill provides that, unless a more restrictive limitation applies currently, a referendum by a local government may only be held concurrently with the spring election (held in each year) or the September primary or general election (held in each even-numbered year). The bill also provides that, unless a more restrictive limitation applies currently, no referendum submitted by the same local government relating to the same subject matter or relating to authorization for the borrowing of money may be held more than once in any 12-month period. The requirement applies to all referenda, including referenda concerning direct legislation (initiative) in cities and villages.

For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB375, s. 1 Section 1. 5.02 (20r) of the statutes is repealed.

AB375, s. 2 Section 2. 5.65 of the statutes is repealed.

AB375, s. 3 Section 3. 7.03 (1) (bm) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,2,7 7.03 (1) (bm) Whenever a special election is called by a county or by a school district, a technical college district, a sewerage district, or a sanitary district or a public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district, the county or district shall pay the compensation of all election officials, as determined under sub. (2).

AB375, s. 4 Section 4. 7.15 (2) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,2,18 7.15 (2) (d) Whenever the governing body of any municipality submits any question to a vote of the electors or whenever a proper recall petition and certificate are filed under s. 9.10, the municipal clerk shall issue a call for the election and prepare and distribute ballots as required in the authorization of submission or as provided in s. 9.10. The date of the referendum shall be established in accordance with s. 8.065, and shall be fixed by the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners unless otherwise provided by law or unless the governing body fixes a date. The ballot for any referendum shall conform to s. 5.64 (2). If there is already an official municipal referendum ballot for the election, the question may appear on the same ballot.

AB375, s. 5 Section 5. 8.05 (3) (d) and (e) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB375,3,5 8.05 (3) (d) The question of adoption of the nonpartisan primary under this subsection may be submitted to the electors at any regular election specified in s. 8.065 held in the town or at a special election called for the purpose. When a petition conforming to the requirements of s. 8.40 signed by at least 20 electors of the town is filed with the town clerk so requesting, the question shall be submitted to a vote.

AB375,3,10 (e) Petitions requesting a vote on the question at a regular town election shall be filed no later than 5 p.m. the last Tuesday in February. When the petition is filed, the clerk shall check its sufficiency. Whether at a regular or special election, the The clerk shall give separate notice by one publication in a newspaper at least 5 days before the election.

AB375, s. 6 Section 6. 8.06 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,3,16 8.06 Special elections may be called. Towns, cities, villages and school districts may call special elections for any purpose to fill vacancies in town, city, village or school district offices whenever such action is authorized or required by law. If an election is called for a special referendum, the election shall be noticed under s. 8.55.

AB375, s. 7 Section 7. 8.065 of the statutes is created to read:

AB375,3,19 8.065 Scheduling of referenda. (1) In this section, "local governmental unit" has the meaning given in s. 16.97 (7).

AB375,4,2 (2) Unless otherwise required by law, a referendum held by any local governmental unit that is authorized or required by law to hold a referendum may only be held concurrently with the spring election, September primary or general election. Unless otherwise required by law, no referendum submitted by the same local governmental unit relating to substantially similar subject matter or relating to authorization for the borrowing of money may be held more than once in any 12-month period.

AB375, s. 8 Section 8. 8.55 of the statutes is repealed.

AB375, s. 9 Section 9. 9.20 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,4,15 9.20 (4) The common council or village board shall, without alteration, either pass the ordinance or resolution within 30 days following the date of the clerk's final certificate, or submit it to the electors at the next spring or general election specified in s. 8.065, if the election is more than 6 weeks after the date of the council's or board's action on the petition or the expiration of the 30-day period, whichever first occurs. If there are 6 weeks or less before the election, the ordinance or resolution shall be voted on at the next election specified in s. 8.065 thereafter. The council or board by a three-fourths vote of the members-elect may order a special election for the purpose of voting on the ordinance or resolution at any time prior to the next election, but not more than one special election for direct legislation may be ordered in any 6-month period.

AB375, s. 10 Section 10. 10.01 (2) (d) and (e) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB375,5,6 10.01 (2) (d) Type D—The type D notice shall state the hours the polls will be open and the polling places to be utilized at the election or shall include a concise statement of how polling place information may be obtained. In cities over 500,000 population, the board of election commissioners shall determine the form of the notice. In other municipalities and special purpose districts, the clerk of the municipality or special purpose district shall give the polling place information in the manner the governing body of the municipality or special purpose district decides will most effectively inform the electors. The type D notice shall be published by the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners of each municipality once on the day before each spring primary and election, each special national, state, county or municipal election at which the electors of that municipality are entitled to vote and each September primary and general election. The clerk of each special purpose district which calls a special election shall publish a type D notice on the day before the election, and the day before the special primary, if any, except as authorized in s. 8.55 (3).

AB375,5,21 (e) Type E—The type E notice shall state the qualifications for absentee voting, the procedures for obtaining an absentee ballot in the case of registered and unregistered voters, and the places and the deadlines for application and return of application. The municipal clerk shall publish a type E notice on the 4th Tuesday preceding each spring primary and election, on the 4th Tuesday preceding each September primary and general election, on the 4th Tuesday preceding the primary for each special national, state, county or municipal election if any, on the 4th Tuesday preceding a special county or municipal referendum, and on the 3rd Tuesday preceding each special national, state, county or municipal election to fill an office which is not held concurrently with the spring or general election. The clerk of each special purpose district which calls a special election shall publish a type E notice on the 4th Tuesday preceding the primary for the special election, if any, on the 4th Tuesday preceding a special referendum, and on the 3rd Tuesday preceding a special election for an office which is not held concurrently with the spring or general election except as authorized in s. 8.55 (3).

AB375, s. 11 Section 11. 10.06 (4) (f) of the statutes is repealed.

AB375, s. 12 Section 12. 24.66 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,6,5 24.66 (3) (b) For long-term loans by unified school districts. Every application for a loan, the required repayment of which exceeds 10 years, shall be approved and authorized for a unified school district by a majority vote of the members of the school board at a regular or special meeting of the school board. Every vote so required shall be by ayes and noes duly recorded. In addition, the application shall be approved for a unified school district by a majority vote of the electors of the school district at a special election referendum as provided under sub. (4).

AB375, s. 13 Section 13. 24.66 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,6,14 24.66 (4) Popular vote, when required. If any municipality is not empowered by law to incur indebtedness for a particular purpose without first submitting the question to its electors, the application for a state trust fund loan for that purpose must be approved and authorized by a majority vote of the electors at a special election referendum called, in accordance with s. 8.065, and noticed and held in the manner provided for other special elections referenda. The notice of the election referendum shall state the amount of the proposed loan and the purpose for which it will be used.

AB375, s. 14 Section 14. 32.72 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,6,22 32.72 (1) Sections 32.50 to 32.71 do not take effect in any city until the following question is submitted to the electors of the city at a special election referendum called in accordance with s. 8.065 and adopted by a majority vote of the electors voting: "Shall subchapter II of chapter 32, Wisconsin Statutes, be effective in the city of ................, thus allowing the city to acquire and condemn property for street widening and similar purposes, financed through assessments of benefits and damages?".

AB375, s. 15 Section 15. 59.997 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,7,13 59.997 (7) When the publication of the said consolidation agreement in each of the said counties is completed, of which the certificate to the judge of the circuit court of the said counties from the owner-editor or manager of each newspaper publishing the same shall be proof, the judge or judges of the circuit courts of the said counties shall, by order entered of record in each of such counties, require the several county clerks of the counties included in the consolidation agreement to submit such question to a vote of the qualified electors of such counties at the next election specified in s. 8.065 to be held on the first Tuesday in April, or the next regular election, or at a special election to be held on a date specified in the order which shall be no sooner than 45 days after the day fixed in date of said order, which day date shall be the same in each of the counties proposing to consolidate. A copy of said order shall be filed with the county clerk of each of such counties. If such question is submitted at a special election, it shall be held not less than thirty days nor more than sixty days from the completion of the consolidation agreement, but not within sixty days of any April or general election.

AB375, s. 16 Section 16. 60.62 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,7,18 60.62 (2) If the county in which the town is located has adopted a zoning ordinance under s. 59.97, the exercise of the authority under sub. (1) is subject to approval by the town meeting or by a referendum vote of the electors of the town to be held at the time of any regular or special election in accordance with s. 8.065.

AB375, s. 17 Section 17. 60.74 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,8,5 60.74 (5) (b) A petition conforming to the requirements of s. 8.40 signed by qualified electors of the district equal to at least 20% of the vote cast for governor in the district at the last gubernatorial election, requesting a change to appointment of commissioners, may be submitted to the town board, subject to sub. (5m) (a). Upon receipt of the petition, the town board shall submit the question to a referendum at the next regular spring election or general election, or shall call a special election for that purpose specified in s. 8.065 to be held not sooner than 45 days after receipt of the petition. The inspectors shall count the votes and submit a statement of the results to the commission. The commission shall canvass the results of the election and certify the results to the town board which has authority to appoint commissioners.

AB375, s. 18 Section 18. 61.187 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,8,15 61.187 (1) Procedure. Whenever a petition conforming to the requirements of s. 8.40, signed by at least one-third as many electors of any village as voted for village officers at the next preceding election therefor, shall be presented to the village board praying for dissolution of the village corporation, such board shall submit to the electors of such village, for determination by ballot in substantially the manner provided by ss. 5.64 (2) and 10.02, at a general election or at a special election called by them for that purpose the next election specified in s. 8.065 to be held not sooner than 45 days after presentation of the petition, the question whether or not such village corporation shall be dissolved.

AB375, s. 19 Section 19. 61.46 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,9,3 61.46 (1) General; limitation. The village board shall, on or before December 15 in each year, by resolution to be entered of record, determine the amount of corporation taxes to be levied and assessed on the taxable property in such village for the current year. Before levying any tax for any specified purpose, exceeding one percent of the assessed valuation aforesaid, the village board shall, and in all other cases may in its discretion, submit the question of levying the same to the village electors at any general or special the next election specified in s. 8.065 to be held no sooner than 45 days after submission by giving 10 days' notice thereof prior to such election by publication in a newspaper published in the village, if any, and if there is none, then by posting notices in 3 public places in said village, setting forth in such notices the object and purposes for which such taxes are to be raised and the amount of the proposed tax.

AB375, s. 20 Section 20. 62.09 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,9,16 62.09 (1) (a) The officers shall be a mayor, treasurer, clerk, comptroller, attorney, engineer, one or more assessors unless the city is assessed by a county assessor under s. 70.99, one or more constables as determined by the common council, a local health officer, as defined in s. 250.01 (5), or local board of health, as defined in s. 250.01 (3), street commissioner, board of police and fire commissioners except in cities where not applicable, chief of police, chief of the fire department, board of public works, 2 alderpersons from each aldermanic district, and such other officers or boards as are created by law or by the council. If one alderperson from each aldermanic district is provided under s. 66.018 (1), the council may, by ordinance adopted by a two-thirds vote of all its members and approved by the electors at a general or special any election specified in s. 8.065, provide that there shall be 2 alderpersons from each aldermanic district.

AB375, s. 21 Section 21. 64.03 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,9,23 64.03 (1) Every ordinance or resolution for the adoption of ss. 64.01 to 64.15, and every petition for a special election referendum on the same, shall state the number of members of which the council herein provided for shall be composed, the term of office of its members, which term shall not exceed 2 years, whether they shall be nominated and elected from aldermanic districts or from the city at large, and the compensation, if any, which they shall receive.

AB375, s. 22 Section 22. 64.39 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,10,6 64.39 (3) Upon filing such petition, the mayor shall, by proclamation, submit the questions prescribed in sub. (1) at a special the next election specified in s. 8.065 to be held at a time specified therein and within 2 months not sooner than 45 days after such petition is filed. The election upon such question shall be conducted, the vote canvassed, and the result declared in the same manner as provided by law for other city elections.

AB375, s. 23 Section 23. 66.01 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,10,17 66.01 (8) Every charter, charter amendment or charter ordinance enacted or approved by a vote of the electors shall control and prevail over any prior or subsequent act of the legislative body of the city or village. Whenever the electors of any city or village by a majority vote have adopted or determined to continue to operate under either ch. 62 or 64, or have determined the method of selection of members of the governing board, the question shall not again be submitted to the electors, nor action taken thereon within a period of 2 years. Any election to change or amend the charter of any city or village, other than a special an election as provided in called under s. 9.20 (4), shall be held at the time provided by statute for holding the spring election.

AB375, s. 24 Section 24. 66.059 (2m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,10,25 66.059 (2m) (b) If a referendum is to be held on a resolution, the municipal governing body shall direct the municipal clerk to call a special election for the purpose of submitting submit the resolution to the electors for approval of the electors at a referendum on approval or rejection. In lieu of a special election, the municipal governing body may specify that the election be held at the next succeeding spring primary or election or September primary or general election called in accordance with s. 8.065.

AB375, s. 25 Section 25. 66.061 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,11,11 66.061 (1) (c) No such ordinance shall be operative until 60 days after passage and publication unless sooner approved by a referendum. Within that time electors equal in number to 20 per cent of those voting at the last regular municipal election, may demand a referendum. The demand shall be in writing and filed with the clerk. Each signer shall state his or her occupation and residence and signatures shall be verified by the affidavit of an elector. The referendum shall be held at the next regular municipal election, or at a special election within 90 days of the to be held not sooner than 45 days after filing of the demand, and the ordinance shall not be effective unless approved by a majority of the votes cast thereon. This paragraph shall not apply to extensions by a utility previously franchised by the village or city.

AB375, s. 26 Section 26. 66.075 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,11,24 66.075 (5) The provisions of this section shall apply only to such counties, cities, villages and towns as shall have adopted the same at any general or municipal election at which the question of the establishment of such county or municipal slaughterhouse shall have been submitted to the voters of such county, city, village or town. Such question shall, upon the filing of a petition conforming to the requirements of s. 8.40 by electors of such county, city, village or town equal in number to at least 10% of all the votes cast in such county, city, village or town for governor at the last preceding general election, be submitted to the electors of such county, city, village or town at the next ensuing election specified in s. 8.065 to be held not sooner than 45 days after filing of the petition, and if a majority of votes cast shall be in favor of the establishment of such slaughterhouse, the provisions of this section shall apply to such county, city, village or town.

AB375, s. 27 Section 27. 66.504 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,12,7 66.504 (2) Facilities authorized. A municipality may enter into a joint contract with a nonprofit corporation organized for civic purposes and located in the municipality to construct or otherwise acquire, equip, furnish, operate and maintain a facility to be used for municipal and civic activities if a majority of the voters voting in a referendum at a special election or at a spring primary or election or September primary or general an election specified in s. 8.065 approve the question of entering into the joint contract.

AB375, s. 28 Section 28. 66.521 (10) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,12,20 66.521 (10) (d) The governing body may issue bonds under this section without submitting the proposition to the electors of the municipality for approval unless within 30 days from the date of publication of notice of adoption of the initial resolution for such bonds, a petition conforming to the requirements of s. 8.40, and signed by a number of electors of the municipality equal to not less than 5% of the registered electors of the municipality, or, if there is no registration of electors in the municipality, by 10% of the number of electors of the municipality voting for the office of governor at the last general election as determined under s. 115.01 (13), is filed with the clerk of the municipality requesting a referendum upon the question of the issuance of the bonds. If such a petition is filed, the bonds shall not be issued until approved by a majority of the electors of the municipality voting thereon at a general or special election referendum called in accordance with s. 8.065.

AB375, s. 29 Section 29. 66.77 (3) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,13,7 66.77 (3) (a) 1. If the governing body of a county wishes to exceed the operating levy rate limit otherwise applicable to the county under this section, it shall adopt a resolution to that effect. The resolution shall specify either the operating levy rate or the operating levy that the governing body wishes to impose for either a specified number of years or an indefinite period. The governing body shall call a special referendum for the purpose of submitting the resolution to the electors of the county for approval or rejection. In lieu of a special referendum, the governing body may specify that provide for the referendum to be held at the next succeeding spring primary or election or September primary or general election to be held specified in s. 8.065 that occurs not earlier than 30 days after the adoption of the resolution of the governing body.

AB375, s. 30 Section 30. 66.94 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,13,20 66.94 (4) Manner of adoption. This section may be adopted by any city, village or town within the metropolitan district in the following manner: The governing body of any municipality, by ordinance passed at least 30 days prior to submission of the question, may direct that the question of the adoption of this section be submitted to the electors therein at any general, special, judicial or local election specified in s. 8.065. The clerk of such municipality or the election commission of any city of the first class shall thereupon submit the question to popular vote. Public notice of the election shall be given in the same manner as in case of a regular municipal election except that such notice shall be published or posted at least 20 days prior to the election. If a majority of those voting on the question vote in the affirmative thereon, this section shall be adopted in such municipality. The proposition on the ballot to be used at such election shall be in substantially the following form:

AB375,13,23 Shall section 66.94 of the Wisconsin statutes which creates a metropolitan transit authority for ownership and operation of a public mass transportation system in the metropolitan district be adopted?

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: