LRB-0438/1
EVM:kjf
2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE
February 28, 2019 - Introduced by Joint Legislative Council. Referred to
Committee on State Affairs.
AB48,1,2 1An Act to amend 38.20 (2) (e) and 67.12 (12) (a) of the statutes; relating to:
2promissory notes of certain public bodies.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill is explained in the Notes provided by the Joint Legislative Council in
the bill.
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:
Joint Legislative Council prefatory note: This bill was prepared for the Joint
Legislative Council's Study Committee on the Investment and Use of the School Trust
Funds. Key provisions of the bill are summarized below.
A municipality, generally defined as a public body that is authorized to levy a tax
and to borrow money and issue obligations to repay the money out of public funds or
revenues, may borrow money and issue municipal obligations for specific purposes. A
municipality may issue a bond for any public purpose project, which is a project involving
the acquisition, leasing, planning, design, construction, development, extension,
enlargement, renovation, rebuilding, repair, or improvement of land, waters, property,
highways, buildings, equipment, or facilities. A municipality may issue a promissory
note for any public purpose, which is the performance of any municipal power or duty.
A municipality may borrow money from the Board of Commissioners of Public
Lands (BCPL) by executing a “certificate of indebtedness,” which is distinct from a bond

or promissory note. The BCPL may loan money through certificates of indebtedness for
the purposes for which municipal bonds or notes may be issued or for other purposes
“authorized by law.”
Current law requires a bond to be repaid within 20 years, and requires that, with
several exceptions, a promissory note must be repaid within 10 years after the original
date of the note. It is the BCPL's practice to loan funds through certificates of
indebtedness for up to 10 years if the money is to be used for a public purpose and for up
to 20 years if the money is to be used for a public purpose project.
This bill increases the permissible term for a promissory note. Under the bill, a
promissory note issued by a municipality for any public purpose must be repaid within
20 years after the original date of the note.
AB48,1 1Section 1. 38.20 (2) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB48,2,192 38.20 (2) (e) The district purchasing property under this subsection may, with
3approval of the city council or village board involved, pay the purchase price by
4issuing and delivering directly to the city or village the general obligation promissory
5notes or the notes of the district under s. 67.12 (12), except that no referendum may
6be held and the 10-year 20-year limitation on such notes shall be inapplicable to
7such notes issued under this paragraph. Such notes shall mature and be payable at
8such times, in such amounts and at such rate of interest as will amortize and pay
9when due the principal and interest on the outstanding obligations of the city or
10village for technical college purposes. All such notes, upon execution and delivery
11to the city or village, shall in all respects be held and considered as an authorized
12investment under s. 66.0603 (1m) or 67.11 (2) and (3) of the debt service fund created
13for payment of the city or village obligations issued for technical college purposes and
14shall be offset against city or village indebtedness in computing legal debt limit to
15the same extent as other authorized investments of the debt service fund and such
16notes may be sold and hypothecated. If the offset against city or village indebtedness
17under this paragraph is determined to be invalid in any respect, such city or village
18immediately may require the district issuing the promissory notes to such city or
19village to comply with pars. (c) and (d) to the extent necessary to cure such invalidity.
AB48,2
1Section 2. 67.12 (12) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB48,3,112 67.12 (12) (a) Any municipality may issue promissory notes as evidence of
3indebtedness for any public purpose, as defined in s. 67.04 (1) (b), including but not
4limited to paying any general and current municipal expense, and refunding any
5municipal obligations, including interest on them. Each note, plus interest if any,
6shall be repaid within 10 years after the original date of the note, except that notes
7issued under this section for purposes of ss. 119.498, 281.58, 281.59, 281.60, 281.61,
8and 292.72, issued to raise funds to pay a portion of the capital costs of a metropolitan
9sewerage district, or issued by a 1st class city or a county having a population of
10750,000 or more, to pay unfunded prior service liability with respect to an employee
11retirement system, shall be repaid
within 20 years after the original date of the note.
AB48,3,1212 (End)
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