59.58(3)
(3) Public transit in counties. A board may:
59.58(3)(a)
(a) Purchase and lease buses to private transit companies that operate within and outside the county.
59.58(3)(b)
(b) Apply for federal aids to purchase such buses or other facilities considered essential for operation.
59.58(3)(c)
(c) Make grants and provide subsidies to private transit companies that operate bus lines principally within the county to stabilize, preserve or enhance levels of transit service to the public.
59.58(3)(d)
(d) Acquire a transportation system by purchase, condemnation under
s. 32.05 or otherwise and provide funds for the operation and maintenance of such a system. "Transportation system" means all land, shops, structures, equipment, property, franchises and rights of whatever nature required for transportation of passengers or freight within the county, or between counties, and includes, but is not limited to, elevated railroads, subways, underground railroads, motor vehicles, motor buses and any combination thereof, and any other form of mass transportation. Such acquisition and operation between counties shall be subject to
ch. 194 and whenever the proposed operations between such counties would be competitive with the urban or suburban operations of another existing common carrier of passengers or freight, the county shall coordinate proposed operations with such carrier to eliminate adverse financial impact for such carrier. This coordination may include, but is not limited to, route overlapping, transfers, transfer points, schedule coordination, joint use of facilities, lease of route service and acquisition of route and corollary equipment. If such coordination does not result in mutual agreement, the proposals shall be submitted to the department of transportation for arbitration. The following forms of transportation are excepted from the definition of "transportation system":
59.58(3)(d)2.
2. School bus transportation businesses or systems that are engaged primarily in the transportation of children to or from school, and which are subject to the regulatory jurisdiction of the department of transportation and the department of public instruction.
59.58(3)(d)3.
3. Charter or contract operations to, from or between points that are outside the county or contiguous or cornering counties.
59.58(3)(e)
(e) Acquire all of the capital stock of a corporation that owns and operates a transportation system.
59.58(3)(f)
(f) Use a public road, street or highway for the transportation of passengers for hire without obtaining a permit or license from a municipality for the operation of a transportation system within such municipality but such use shall be subject to approval by the department of transportation.
59.58(3)(g)
(g) Upon the acquisition of a transportation system:
59.58(3)(g)1.
1. Operate and maintain it or lease it to an operator or contract for its use by an operator.
59.58(3)(g)2.
2. Contract for superintendence of the system with an organization which has personnel with the experience and skill necessary.
59.58(3)(g)3.
3. Delegate responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the system to an appropriate administrative officer, board or commission of the county notwithstanding
s. 59.84 or any other statute.
59.58(3)(g)4.
4. Maintain and improve a railroad right-of-way and improvements on the right-of-way for future use.
59.58(3)(h)2.
2. Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, no joint transit commission under
subd. 1. may provide service outside the corporate limits of the parties to the contract under
s. 66.0301 which establish the joint transit commission unless the joint transit commission receives financial support for the service under a contract with a public or private organization for the service. This subdivision does not apply to service provided by a joint transit commission outside the corporate limits of the parties to the contract under
s. 66.0301 which establish the joint transit commission if the joint transit commission is providing the service on April 28, 1994, without receiving financial support from a public or private organization for the service, and elects to continue the service.
59.58(3)(i)
(i) Paragraphs (d) to
(h) 1. shall only apply if a board by a two-thirds vote of its membership so authorizes.
59.58(3)(j)1.1. Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, no county which acquires a transportation system under this subsection may provide service outside the corporate limits of the county unless the county receives financial support for the service under a contract with a public or private organization for the service. This paragraph does not apply to service provided by a county outside the corporate limits of the county if the county is providing the service on April 28, 1994, without receiving financial support from a public or private organization for the service, and elects to continue the service.
59.58(3)(j)2.
2. Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, no county which establishes a transportation system under this subsection may contract with an operator to provide service under
par. (g) 1. outside the corporate limits of the county unless the county receives financial support for the service under a contract with a public or private organization for the service. This subdivision does not apply to service provided under
par. (g) 1. outside the corporate limits of a county under a contract between the county and an operator if an operator is providing the service on April 28, 1994, without receiving financial support from a public or private organization for the service, and the county elects to continue the service.
59.58(4)
(4) County obligations to employees of county mass transportation systems. 59.58(4)(a)(a) A board acquiring a transportation system under
sub. (3) (d) shall assume all the employer's obligations under any contract between the employees and management of the system.
59.58(4)(b)
(b) A board acquiring, constructing, controlling or operating a transportation system under
sub. (3) (d) shall negotiate an agreement protecting the interests of employees affected by the acquisition, construction, control or operation. Such agreements shall include, but are not limited to, provisions for:
59.58(4)(b)1.
1. The preservation of rights, privileges and benefits under an existing collective bargaining agreement or other agreement.
59.58(4)(b)2.
2. The preservation of rights and benefits under existing pension plans covering prior service, and continued participation in social security.
59.58(4)(b)3.
3. The continuation of collective bargaining rights.
59.58(4)(b)4.
4. The protection of individual employees against a worsening of their positions with respect to their employment to the extent provided by section 13 (c) of the urban mass transportation act, as amended (
49 USC 1609 (c)).
59.58(4)(b)5.
5. Assurances of employment to employees of the transportation systems and priority of reemployment of employees who are terminated or laid off.
59.58(4)(b)6.
6. Assurances of first opportunity of employment in order of seniority to employees of any nonacquired system, affected by a new, competitive or supplemental public transportation system, in unfilled nonsupervisory positions for which they can qualify after a reasonable training period.
59.58(4)(c)
(c) An agreement under
par. (b) may include provisions for the submission of labor disputes to final and binding arbitration by an impartial umpire or board of arbitration acceptable to the parties.
59.58(4)(d)
(d) In all negotiations under this subsection, the county executive, if such office exists in the county, shall be a member of the county negotiating body.
59.58(5)
(5) Specialized transportation services. The board may coordinate specialized transportation services, as defined in
s. 85.21 (2) (g), for county residents who are disabled or are aged 60 or older, including services funded under
42 USC 3001 to
3057n,
42 USC 5001 and
42 USC 5011 (b), under
ss. 49.43 to
49.499 and
85.21 and under other public funds administered by the county.
59.58(6)
(6) Regional transportation authority. 59.58(6)(a)1.
1. "Authority" means the regional transportation authority.
59.58(6)(a)2.
2. "Region" means the geographic area composed of the counties of Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha.
59.58(6)(b)
(b) The counties of Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha shall create a regional transportation authority. The governing body of the authority shall consist of the following members:
59.58(6)(b)1.
1. Seven members nominated by the governor, and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed, for 3-year terms, with each member designated to represent one of the counties in the region.
59.58(6)(b)2.
2. The secretary of transportation or his or her designee.
59.58(6)(b)3.
3. Three other members who are nominated by the governor, and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed, for 3-year terms.
59.58(6)(c)
(c) The authority shall be responsible for the coordination of highway and transit programs in the region and for other responsibilities as specified for the authority by the legislature.
59.58(6)(d)
(d) The department of transportation may provide administrative support services to assist the authority in fulfilling its duties.
59.58(6)(e)
(e) By November 15,
1992, the authority shall submit to the governor and to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the legislature under
s. 13.172 (2), a report on the activities of the authority. The report shall include all of the following:
59.58(6)(e)1.
1. A plan to improve the coordination and priority of federal, state and local expenditures for highways in the region that have a demonstrably regional impact.
59.58(6)(e)2.
2. A recommendation on additional functional responsibilities for the authority concerning highways in the region.
59.58(6)(e)3.
3. A plan to improve the coordinating and funding of expanded public transit in the region.
59.58(6)(e)3m.
3m. A recommendation on whether a transit security force should be created under the jurisdiction of the authority to provide for the public safety of transit programs in the region.
59.58(6)(e)3r.
3r. A recommendation on the use of bonding for public transit in the region, and the role of the authority in such bonding.
59.58(6)(e)4.
4. Recommendations for the assignment of responsibilities between the authority, the department of transportation and other governmental units, including any multicounty regional planning commission organized under
s. 66.0309 that is located in the region.
59.58(6)(e)5.
5. A proposal that specifically identifies a permanent regional funding source to provide local funds for highway improvements in the region that have a demonstrably regional impact, and for the local portion of operating and capital costs of public transit that are not covered by passenger fares. In making its proposal, the authority shall consider at least the following funding sources:
59.58(6)(e)6.
6. A recommendation on whether the authority should continue in existence after September 30, 1993.
59.58 Annotation
Section 59.968 (3) [now s. 59.58 (3) (c)] authorizes a county to subsidize a bus company operating a route principally located within the county, even though the route is only 5% of the company's total business. 65 Atty. Gen. 191.
FINANCE AND BUDGET
59.60
59.60
Budgetary procedure in certain counties. 59.60(1)(1)
Application. The provisions of this section shall apply to all counties with a population of 500,000 or more. Except as provided in
sub. (13), any county with a county executive or county administrator may elect to be subject to the provisions of this section.
59.60(2)
(2) Definitions. In this section:
59.60(2)(a)
(a) "Department" includes all county departments, boards, commissions, institutions, offices, and other agencies of the county government for which funds may be legally appropriated.
59.60(2)(b)
(b) "Director" means the director of the county department of administration.
59.60(3)
(3) Fiscal year. The fiscal year in every county is the calendar year.
59.60(3m)
(3m) Accounting and budgeting procedure. Every accounting and budgeting procedure that is applied under this section shall comply with generally accepted accounting principles for government as promulgated by the governmental accounting standards board or its successor bodies or other authoritative sources.
59.60(4)
(4) Submission of annual budget requests. On or before the date that the director specifies, but not later than July 15, each department shall annually submit to the director in the form that the director specifies:
59.60(4)(a)
(a) The department's estimated revenues and expenditures for the ensuing fiscal year.
59.60(4)(b)
(b) The estimated cost of any capital improvements pending or proposed for the ensuing fiscal year and for the next 4 fiscal years.
59.60(4)(c)
(c) Any other information that the director requests.
59.60(5)
(5) Compilation of budget requests. Not later than August 15 of each year, the director shall submit to the county executive or county administrator and to the board:
59.60(5)(a)
(a) The annual budget estimates of each department.
59.60(5)(b)
(b) A statement of principal and interest becoming due on outstanding bonds and on other financial obligations.
59.60(5)(c)
(c) An estimate of all other expenditures, including proposed expenditures on capital improvements that are not financed by bonds.
59.60(5)(d)
(d) An estimate of anticipated issues of new bond obligations during the ensuing fiscal year, plus a statement of the funds required for maturities and interest payments on these issues.
59.60(5)(e)
(e) An estimate of funds required as an appropriation for contingencies.
59.60(5)(f)
(f) An estimate of revenue from all other sources.
59.60(5)(g)
(g) A complete summary of all the budget estimates and a statement of the property tax levy required if funds were appropriated on the basis of these estimates. In determining the property tax levy required, the director shall deduct from the total estimated expenditures the estimated amount of revenue from sources other than the property tax levy and shall deduct the amount of any surplus at the close of the preceding fiscal year not yet appropriated. The board, by two-thirds vote, may adopt a resolution before the adoption of the tax levy authorizing the use of the surplus fund in whole or in part as a sinking fund for the redemption or repurchase of bonds or to provide funds for emergency needs under
sub. (9), but for no other purposes, except as provided in
sub. (13).
59.60(6)(a)(a) The county executive or county administrator shall review the estimates of expenditures and revenues and hold public hearings on such estimates at which the head or a representative of every county department shall appear and give information with regard to the appropriations requested, including work programs, other justification of expenditures, and other data that the county executive or county administrator requests. The county executive or county administrator shall make changes in the proposed budget that in the executive's or administrator's discretion are considered desirable or proper.
59.60(6)(b)
(b) On or before October 1, and after the hearings required under
par. (a), the county executive or county administrator shall submit the amended proposed budget to the board. The amended proposed budget shall be the executive's or administrator's budget and shall include all of the following:
59.60(6)(b)1.
1. A simple, clear, general summary of the detailed contents of the budget.
59.60(6)(b)2.
2. A comparative statement by organization unit and principal object of expenditure showing the actual expenditures of the preceding fiscal year, the appropriations and estimated expenditures for the fiscal year currently ending, and the recommended appropriations for the fiscal year next succeeding.
59.60(6)(b)3.
3. A comparative statement of the actual revenues from all sources including property taxes during the preceding fiscal year, the anticipated revenues and the estimated revenues for the fiscal year currently ending, and the anticipated revenues for the fiscal year next succeeding including any surplus from the preceding fiscal year not otherwise appropriated under
sub. (9).
59.60(6)(c)
(c) The anticipated revenues for the fiscal year next succeeding shall be equal in amount to the recommended appropriations.
