December 8, 2023 - Introduced by Senators James, Ballweg, Cowles, Marklein and Spreitzer, cosponsored by Representatives Brooks, Rozar, Brandtjen, Dittrich, Edming, Gundrum, Hurd, Jacobson, Mursau, Penterman and Schmidt. Referred to Committee on Transportation and Local Government.
SB753,,22An Act to renumber and amend 82.08 (5) and 84.18 (8); and to create 82.08 (5) (b) and 84.18 (8) (b) of the statutes; relating to: supervision of local bridge projects funded under certain local bridge maintenance programs. SB753,,33Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau Under current law, the Department of Transportation administers a local bridge program to reconstruct and rehabilitate seriously deteriorating local bridges (local bridge program). Under the program, political subdivisions apply to the county in which they are located for placement on the county’s list of projects under the program. DOT allocates funds to counties based on the ratio between the estimated cost of reconstructing or rehabilitating qualifying bridges in that county and the estimated cost of reconstructing or rehabilitating qualifying bridges in the state. DOT supervises the construction of projects under the program and provides 80 percent of the project’s costs with local funds providing the other 20 percent.
Also under current law, a town that has voted to construct or repair a bridge or culvert on a highway maintained by the town may petition the county in which the town is located for shared funding of the project (county bridge aid). With certain exceptions, upon an adequate petition, the county must pay one-half of the cost of construction or repair. In general, the county highway committee and the town board supervise projects under this program.
This bill specifies that county bridge aid may be used to fund the local share of a local bridge program project and that, if county bridge aid is used for this purpose, DOT supervises the project.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
SB753,,44The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows: SB753,15Section 1. 82.08 (5) of the statutes is renumbered 82.08 (5) (a) and amended to read: SB753,,6682.08 (5) (a) The Except as provided under par. (b), the county highway committee and the town board shall have full charge of design, sizing, letting, inspecting, and accepting the construction or repair, but the town board may leave the matter entirely in the hands of the county highway committee. The county highway committee and the town board must agree on the cost of the project and must consult each other during construction. SB753,27Section 2. 82.08 (5) (b) of the statutes is created to read: SB753,,8882.08 (5) (b) For a project receiving funds under s. 84.18, supervision and control of construction of the project shall be as provided under s. 84.18 (6). SB753,39Section 3. 84.18 (8) of the statutes is renumbered 84.18 (8) (intro.) and amended to read: SB753,,101084.18 (8) Exceptions. (intro.) Nothing in this section prevents construction any of the following: SB753,,1111(a) Construction or rehabilitation projects under other bridge programs if applicable. SB753,412Section 4. 84.18 (8) (b) of the statutes is created to read: SB753,,131384.18 (8) (b) The sharing of the cost under s. 82.08 to fund the local share of a local bridge project.
