Chapter 65

65.04 65.04 Meetings of board of estimates.

65.04(1) (1) Meeting; report of estimates. The board of estimates shall meet not later than September 10 of each year. The secretary shall place before the board the reports of estimates filed with the secretary by the departments together with the comptroller’s statement of anticipated revenues for the ensuing budget period, or the 2nd year of a biennium in an even-numbered year, and the adequate comparisons with other years as provided in s. 65.02 (5) to (11). The budget summary shall be published forthwith in at least one and not more than 2 daily newspapers having the largest circulation in the city as a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, and in the proceedings of the common council; and a copy of the entire proposed budget shall be available for public inspection in the office of the city comptroller.

65.04(2) (2) Proposed budget; publication of summary. From the estimates before it the board shall make and submit to the common council, on or before October 25 each budget period, a proposed budget setting forth in detail the amounts proposed to be spent by each department and the various purposes therefor and the amounts of money for each purpose it is proposed shall be appropriated by the council. The proposed budget shall comply with s. 65.02 (5) to (11). The budget summary shall be published forthwith in at least one and not more than 2 daily newspapers having the largest circulation in the city as a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, and the proposed budget summary shall be printed forthwith in the proceedings of the common council. If any department fails to file its estimates as herein provided the board shall make a proposed budget for such department specifying the purposes for which and the amount of funds such department may expend.

65.04(3) (3) Changes by board. The board shall not change any sum or purpose of any department which by law is authorized to determine the purposes of its expenditures and the tax to be levied therefor, unless such department by formal resolution shall so determine by an affirmative vote of a majority of its members, when the board shall then make the change and include a certified copy of such resolution with its estimates to be filed with the common council.

65.04(4) (4) Contingent fund. In addition to the purposes required to be set forth in detail the board may provide a contingent fund for such sum as they may deem reasonably necessary for emergency and other purposes that may arise during the budget period requiring the expenditure of money in addition to the sums provided for the several purposes, and for purposes for which no express provision is made in the budget.

65.04(5) (5) Bonds; mortgage certificates. The board shall also include in its budget the amount of bonds, the purposes therefor, and the required mortgage certificates to be issued during the budget period, except such bonds as are authorized to be omitted by express provision of law.

65.04(6) (6) Meetings public. All meetings of the board shall be public.

65.04(7) (7) Publication of notice of public hearings. At the meeting of the common council at which the proposed budget is submitted by the board of estimates, the common council shall determine the place and time of a public hearing on the budget which shall be held jointly by the common council and by the board of estimates not less than 10 days after the publication provided in sub. (2), nor later than November 10. The common council shall cause a notice of the place and time of said hearing to be published as a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, which hearing shall be not less than 7 days after the date of the last publication of said notice in at least one and not more than 2 daily newspapers having the largest circulation in the city.

65.04(8) (8) Duties of the finance committee. The finance committee of the common council shall submit to the common council as soon after October 25 as may be practicable, but not later than November 20, a report or reports showing the number, title, compensation range of each officer and each position in the city service:

65.04(8)(a) (a) The number, title and compensation range of each officer and each position in the city service and the proposed appropriation for the same recommended for the ensuing year; and

65.04(8)(b) (b) A recommended compensation schedule of uniform rates of pay for offices and positions in the city service.

65.04(9) (9) Duties of budget supervisor. The budget supervisor or the head of the department having responsibility for the preparation or the analyzing of the budget, may be secretary of the board of estimates, if so directed by common council ordinance; that person shall not however be entitled to a vote on such board.

65.04 History History: 1971 c. 267; 1991 a. 316; 2019 a. 42; 2021 a. 240 s. 30.

65.05 65.05 Adoption of budget; changes, how made.

65.05(1) (1) The common council, by vote of the majority of all the alderpersons, may make such changes in the proposed budget submitted by the board of estimates, and by the finance committee, either as to purposes or amounts for which money may be expended and as to purposes or amounts for which bonds or mortgage certificates may be issued as it may deem best.

65.05(2) (2) The common council shall not change the purposes or amounts provided in the proposed budget as submitted to it for the departments which by law are authorized to determine their expenditures and the taxes to be levied therefor, unless such department by formal resolution adopted by a majority of all its members shall authorize such change, nor shall the common council change the purposes or amounts of the bond or mortgage certificate issues which are required to be issued by law.

65.05(3) (3) When any department, authorized to determine its expenditures and the taxes to be levied therefor, shall authorize a change in its budget by the common council, the department shall file its resolution authorizing the change with the city clerk at least 2 days prior to the time fixed by law for the adoption of the budget, and the council shall then make the change in accordance with the resolution.

65.05(4) (4) For each budget period, the common council, on or before November 14, shall adopt the proposed budget by a majority vote of all the alderpersons either as submitted or as changed by the council. It shall not be necessary to refer the budget to a committee of the common council.

65.05(5) (5) The budget submitted by the board to the council as changed by the council within the time therein provided shall constitute the budget of the city for the following budget period whether or not any formal resolution or motion adopting it has been passed by the common council. Within 5 days either after its formal adoption by the council or by operation of law it shall be certified by the city clerk to the mayor for the mayor’s approval.

65.05(6) (6) If the mayor approves the budget the mayor shall sign it. The mayor shall have power only to disapprove of any item or items therein under the control of the common council and upon disapproving any item or items the mayor shall return the budget to the clerk with a written statement of the mayor’s objections to those items and the reasons therefor.

65.05(7) (7) The common council shall vote on each item disapproved by the mayor separately, and if the mayor’s disapproval is sustained it shall affect only the items disapproved and sustained. The council may then proceed, by an affirmative vote of a majority of the alderpersons, to adopt a substitute for the item rejected which shall be separately submitted to the mayor subject to the mayor’s approval. All items not disapproved by the mayor and sustained by the council shall constitute the budget and be in full force. The city clerk shall have the budget printed. The printed budget shall be filed in the office of the comptroller and made available for general distribution. In case of an obvious error in authorizing any salary or position as provided in s. 65.02 (8) (b), the common council may by a three-fourths vote of all its members correct such error in the period between the adoption of the budget and December 31 inclusive of each year.

65.05(8) (8) Except as provided in s. 65.025 (5), the adoption of the budget shall determine the amount of money to be levied upon all taxable property in the city for the ensuing budget period. The tax levy shall be computed by deducting the surplus and miscellaneous revenues available therefor from the appropriations for expenditures for the ensuing year. The city comptroller shall then certify the necessary taxes to be levied to the commissioner of assessments, who shall calculate the tax rate. Such tax rate shall be the rate of the ensuing tax levy.

65.05(9) (9) The compensation rates of pay and the number of positions established in the budget shall determine the compensation to be paid and the number of positions for the ensuing budget period except that additional positions may be established where necessary during the year by resolution adopted by three-fourths vote of all the alderpersons.

65.05 History History: 1987 a. 289; 1989 a. 266; 1991 a. 156, 316; 1993 a. 184, 381, 491; 1995 a. 225; 2019 a. 42.

65.06 65.06 Funds, how expended.

65.06(1) (1) Except as provided in s. 65.025 (5), no money may be expended and no liabilities incurred by the city or any department unless otherwise specially authorized by law during the budget period, in excess of the amounts specified or except as hereinafter provided for any other purpose than as designated therein, provided, however, that whenever the city department that is responsible for a water system desires to make a contract extending over a period of more than one year for additions to the plant in excess of the estimated revenue for the budget period, if in the opinion of the board of estimates there will be money available to meet the payments on the contract as they may come due, then, by a majority vote of the board, they may authorize the comptroller to countersign such contract.

65.06(2) (2) Whenever a department is reimbursed for materials or services furnished, and the funds so received are not by law credited to some particular fund, the department may spend the money so received for the same purpose for which the money was originally appropriated in the budget.

65.06(3) (3) Whenever a department whose funds are subject to the control of the common council shall find it necessary to expend a greater sum than authorized by the budget for such specific purpose, and the department shall find it unnecessary to spend a sum as authorized for some other purpose, the department may request the secretary of the board of estimates to authorize the funds unnecessary for one purpose to be transferred to the purpose for which the greater sum is needed, stating the reasons therefor in writing. The secretary shall immediately submit such request to the mayor who shall call a meeting of the board forthwith at which the board may by a majority vote authorize the change, if the change shall be deemed advisable. Thereupon the secretary shall immediately certify the action of the board to the comptroller and the change shall be made in accordance with the action of the board.

65.06(4) (4) Any department authorized by law to fix its own tax levy may change at a regular meeting or one called for that purpose any appropriation specified in the budget for one purpose which is found unnecessary for that purpose to another purpose which the department shall find necessary to spend a greater sum than specified in the budget for that purpose. The department shall certify its action to the comptroller and the change shall be made accordingly.

65.06(5) (5) No department shall spend a greater sum than is appropriated by the budget for that department except as provided in s. 65.025 (5) and except:

65.06(5)(a) (a) Unexpended balances from the proceeds of bonds or mortgage certificates carried over from the preceding year may be expended for the purposes for which the bonds or certificates were issued; and

65.06(5)(b) (b) Any department whose funds are subject to the control of the common council may expend funds for the purpose appropriated by the common council from the contingent fund.

65.06(6) (6) 

65.06(6)(a) (a) The common council by resolution adopted by a three-fourths vote of all the alderpersons, may appropriate money from its contingent fund for any lawful purpose.

65.06(6)(b) (b) The common council at any time after the adoption of the budget may, by resolution adopted by a majority vote of the members thereof direct the proper officers of any department to expend such sum or sums of money as are specially appropriated out of any specific fund under its control for any of the several purposes enumerated therein. The adoption of such resolution shall be the authority for such department to proceed and expend such specified sum for the purpose as directed therein.

65.06(7) (7) Any department whose funds are not subject to the common council may by vote of three-fourths of all its members appropriate money out of its contingent fund for any purpose for which it is authorized to spend money. Before the department shall spend any such funds it shall certify to the comptroller its action and the purpose for which such sum was appropriated.

65.06(8) (8) Any department charged by law with the construction, extension, operation and maintenance of a water system, lighting system or public utility may spend money from the surplus revenue of the water system, lighting system or utility in addition to the sum specified in the budget when deemed necessary to maintain the service, upon being authorized so to do by a three-fourths vote of all the alderpersons of the common council, specifying by resolution the purpose for which and the sum appropriated. Before any money shall be so expended a copy of the resolution authorizing it shall be certified to the comptroller.

65.06(9) (9) Unless otherwise specifically provided by law, no municipal bonds other than those provided for in the budget shall be issued during the ensuing fiscal year, except in case of great emergency when necessary to protect the public health or safety, and then only when authorized by the common council by a three-fourths vote of all the alderpersons.

65.06(10) (10) The city may expend any money or incur liabilities for any purposes which by law are assessable as benefits against parcels of land or are a legal charge against such parcels of land.

65.06(11) (11) Every officer or employee who shall violate or participate in the violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be personally liable to the city for all loss or damage to the city occasioned thereby.

65.06(12) (12) The adoption of the budget shall be authority for the expenditure by a department for the purposes therein provided and of the amounts assigned to the department thereby and no further action by the common council shall be necessary to authorize any department to make such expenditures, except that as provided herein it shall not authorize the expenditure of any money from the contingent fund of the common council.

65.06(13) (13) The common council may at any time suspend the expenditure of any fund assigned to any department by the budget which has not been expended or reserved for the payment of indebtedness incurred by the department. Such action by the council shall be by a majority vote of all the alderpersons but shall not apply to the funds of a department which determines its own tax levy and whose funds are not subject to the control of the common council.

65.06(14) (14) The adoption of the budget for any budget period shall not authorize the expenditure of any funds for the succeeding budget period except for indebtedness incurred during the budget year.

65.06(15) (15) All funds subject to the control of the common council assigned by the budget to a department not expended during the budget period and not reserved for indebtedness incurred during the budget period shall revert to the general revenues of the city.

65.06(16) (16) All funds of a department not subject to the control of the common council and not expended or reserved for indebtedness shall become a part of the general revenues of such department.

65.06(17) (17) Subsections (13), (14), (15) and (16) do not apply to the expenditure of funds, the proceeds of bonds or mortgage certificates, nor the surplus revenues of any water system, lighting system or municipally owned utility. In establishing the budget format with respect to funds and accounts related to proprietary operations, the common council may authorize accounting procedures which follow the uniform system of accounts authorized by the public service commission in the case of municipal utilities or accepted commercial accounting practices in other instances.

65.06(18) (18) The omission from the budget of any of the following items shall not prevent the placing of the same on the tax roll for the levy and collection of the tax and the payment of the money therefor:

65.06(18)(a) (a) The payment of interest on or the principal of any bonded debt of the city when due;

65.06(18)(b) (b) The payment of principal and interest on mortgages or mortgage certificates when due; and

65.06(18)(c) (c) Funds required to be raised by any mandatory provision of law.

65.06 History History: 1993 a. 184; 1995 a. 378; 2019 a. 42.

65.07 65.07 Power of council to levy taxes.

65.07(1) (1) The common council shall have power to levy annually a tax upon all the taxable property in the city for the following purposes:

65.07(1)(a) (a) A sufficient general city fund to pay the expenses of city departments, boards and commissions which are subject to the control of the common council. The rate of taxation for the purposes enumerated in this paragraph shall be established only by affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of all members elected to the common council.

65.07(1)(b) (b) A fund to pay the city’s contribution to the fire fighters’ and police officers’ pension fund and for any similar fund which may be created by law.

65.07(1)(c) (c) A sufficient permanent improvement fund for any purpose authorized by s. 66.0913 (1), 67.04 or 67.12 for which money may be borrowed or bonds issued, and for the initial furniture, fixtures, machinery and equipment required in such new facilities permitted thereunder.

65.07(1)(d) (d) A sufficient sewerage fund to maintain and operate any sewerage disposal plant.

65.07(1)(e) (e) A school operations fund, as constituted and for the purposes specified in s. 119.46 (1).

65.07(1)(f) (f) A school construction fund, as constituted and for the purposes specified in s. 119.48, not exceeding 0.6 mills on each dollar of the assessed valuation of all taxable property in the city.

65.07(1)(g) (g) A school extension fund, as constituted and for the purposes specified in s. 119.47.

65.07(1)(i) (i) A delinquent tax fund.

65.07(1)(j) (j) A sufficient fund to pay the interest and principal on the funded debt falling due within the year.

65.07(1)(k) (k) A public improvement reserve fund.

65.07(1)(L) (L) A sufficient common council contingent fund.

65.07(1)(m) (m) A debt service fund for school building purposes as provided in s. 120.10 (10).

65.07(1)(o) (o) A tax stabilization fund.

65.07(1)(p) (p) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 65.06 (14) and (15), the common council may by resolution authorize the carrying over of unexpended funds which have been appropriated to a department for additional periods not to exceed 3 years from the year in which they were appropriated.

65.07(1)(q) (q) An operating fund which may be carried over by the common council from year to year for the purpose of accumulating sums necessary to purchase buildings, machinery, equipment, and appurtenances thereto required for municipal purposes.

65.07(1)(r) (r)

65.07(1)(r)1. 1. A tax equalization fund under the control of the common council. A levy for the purposes of this fund may be made against all taxable property in the city whenever as the result of any consolidation of a municipality, as defined in s. 345.05, with the city there is included within the city any area subject to taxes levied by any municipality except a county or metropolitan sewerage district at a rate different than that which is applicable for the same purposes in the city other than the consolidated portion thereof. To create such fund the common council may levy a tax in the consolidated area equivalent to the proceeds of a city tax for the same purpose if levied in such area and in addition may levy in such city, including the consolidated area, a tax calculated to produce a sum sufficient to meet the requirements of such other municipality properly certified to such city so as to result in taxation at a uniform rate for such purposes in the city including the consolidated area. Appropriations may be made from such fund to pay certifications of school districts lying wholly or partially in the area consolidated.

65.07(1)(r)2. 2. This paragraph shall apply to any tax levy in a consolidated area on January 1, 1958, and thereafter.

65.07(1)(s) (s) A liability reserve fund for the purpose of paying liability claims against the city or premiums on insurance to pay such claims. The governing body may allow amounts appropriated to the fund to accumulate from year to year. The annual taxes levied for this purpose may not exceed the level necessary to collect the amount recommended by an actuary, in accordance with generally accepted actuarial principles, that will be sufficient to pay any insurance premiums and the uninsured portion of claims that are anticipated to be made based on occurrences during the year in which the tax is collected. Payment of claims and premiums may either be made directly from the reserve account or appropriations may be made from the reserve account to an operating account for such payments. No other transfers may be made from the fund except in accordance with the procedure specified in s. 65.06 (6) (a) and unless:

65.07(1)(s)1. 1. If the fund is to be dissolved, an actuary has determined that all claims that are to be paid from the fund have been paid or a sufficient reserve has been created from the fund to pay such claims; or

65.07(1)(s)2. 2. If the fund is to be continued and the types of claims or the amount of coverage of claims by the fund is to be reduced, an actuary has determined, under generally accepted actuarial principles, that the balance in the fund exceeds the amount necessary to pay claims and premiums and the amount transferred is not more than the excess amount.

65.07(2) (2) The common council may allow funds established under sub. (1) (c), (i), (k), (o), (r) and (s) to accumulate from year to year.

65.07 History History: 1971 c. 152 s. 38; 1971 c. 154; 1973 c. 90, 333; 1975 c. 39, 80, 200, 224; 1977 c. 113 ss. 4, 6; 1977 c. 203 s. 101; 1977 c. 418 ss. 402 to 407, 929 (42); 1979 c. 34; 1981 c. 20, 61, 93; 1983 a. 27; 1983 a. 207 ss. 93 (8), 95; 1985 a. 29, 135; 1985 a. 225 ss. 28, 100; 1987 a. 27, 377; 1993 a. 437; 1995 a. 27; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 2005 a. 453.

65.10 65.10 City officers to pay receipts monthly. Each city officer shall keep an itemized and accurate account of all moneys received by the officer in the officer’s official capacity for fees, commissions and otherwise, and shall at the end of each month, during that officer’s term of office, pay into the city treasury all such money in that officer’s hands and file a duly verified copy of that officer’s account with the city comptroller, together with a receipt of the city treasurer showing that such money has been paid into the city treasury. Until such account and receipt are so filed, it shall not be lawful for the common council or city officer, to order, draw, countersign or deliver any warrant for the payment of the salary or allowance of any such delinquent officer.

65.10 History History: 1991 a. 316.

65.20 65.20 Executive budget procedures in cities of the 1st class.

65.20(1) (1) Alternative. As an alternative to any other budget procedure under this chapter, the common council of any city of the 1st class may, by adoption of a charter ordinance, permanently transfer the duties and responsibilities of the board of estimates relating to the preparation of the proposed budget under ss. 65.02 to 65.06 to the mayor of such city. Any charter ordinance adopted under this section shall provide that:

65.20(1)(a) (a) The functions of the board of estimates relating to the preparation of the city budget are permanently transferred to the mayor who shall prepare the proposed budget and present it to the common council. The budget presented by the mayor shall be called the “executive budget” and its contents shall comply with the requirements of ss. 65.02 to 65.04 in all respects, consistent with any variation that is necessary due to the common council having adopted a biennial budget procedure under s. 65.025.

65.20(1)(am) (am) Any budget department existing on October 25, 1977 shall be transferred to the office of the mayor. The director and employees of the department shall retain their civil service status.

65.20(1)(b) (b) Each department shall submit to the mayor not later than the 2nd Tuesday in May of each budget period on forms approved by the budget director an estimate in detail of the department’s needs for the ensuing budget period, including a statement of any permanent improvements to be made and an estimate of expenditures therefor, and including such information supplied in such form as the mayor requests.

65.20(1)(c) (c) Any department whose funds are not subject to the control of the common council may include in its estimate such sum as it deems reasonably necessary for a contingent fund for emergency purposes or other purposes which may arise during the budget period requiring the expenditure of money in addition to the sums provided for the several purposes or for purposes for which no express provision is made in the budget.

65.20(1)(d) (d) The mayor shall hold hearings with respect to departmental requests at the times and places the mayor or the common council, by ordinance, directs. All hearings shall be open to the public. The mayor shall conduct the hearings in the manner in which the mayor determines best suited to fulfilling the purpose of the hearings. For each budget period, the mayor shall prepare a requested budget summary which shall be published at least once prior to the commencement of the hearings in the newspaper having the largest circulation in the city. A complete copy of the entire requested budget shall be made available for public inspection in the office of the city clerk.

65.20(1)(e) (e) From the estimates before him or her, the mayor shall make and submit to the common council, on or before September 28 each budget period, a proposed budget setting forth in detail the amounts proposed to be spent by each department and the various purposes therefor and the amounts of money for each purpose it is proposed shall be appropriated by the council. The proposed budget shall comply with s. 65.02 (5) to (11). The proposed budget summary shall be published forthwith in at least one and not more than 2 daily newspapers having the largest circulation in the city as a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, and the proposed budget summary shall be printed forthwith in the proceedings of the common council. A complete copy of the entire proposed budget shall be made available for inspection in the office of the city clerk. If any department fails to file its estimates as provided in this section, the mayor shall make a proposed budget for the department specifying the purposes for which and the amount of funds the department may expend.

65.20(1)(f) (f) The mayor may not change any sum or purpose of any department which by law is authorized to determine the purposes of its expenditures and the tax to be levied therefor, unless the department by formal resolution shall so determine by an affirmative vote of a majority of its members. The mayor shall then make the change and include a certified copy of the resolution with its estimates to be filed with the common council.

65.20(1)(g) (g) In addition to the purposes required to be set forth in detail, the mayor may provide a contingent fund for such sum as the mayor deems reasonably necessary for emergency and other purposes that may arise during the budget period requiring the expenditure of money in addition to the sums provided for the several purposes, and for purposes for which no express provision is made in the budget.

65.20(1)(h) (h) The mayor shall also include in the proposed budget the amount of bonds and the purposes for them, to be issued during the budget period, except such bonds as are authorized to be omitted by express provision of law. Bonds authorized to be omitted include bonds issued for the purpose of refunding prior indebtedness of the city.