Chapter 24

24.66(2) (2) For municipalities other than school districts, public inland lake districts, town sanitary districts or sewerage districts. Every application shall be approved and authorized for a town, by the signatures of a majority of its supervisors acknowledged as conveyances of land are acknowledged; for a village, by a majority vote of its trustees; for a city, by a majority vote of the members of its common council; and for a county, by a majority vote of the members of its board of supervisors at some regular or special session thereof. Every vote so required shall be by ayes and noes duly recorded.

24.66(2m) (2m) For public inland lake districts. Every application shall be approved and authorized for a public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district by a majority of the commissioners of the district.

24.66(2p) (2p) For sewerage districts. Every application for a loan under this section to a sewerage district created under s. 200.05 shall be approved and authorized by a majority of the commissioners of the district; to a sewerage district created under s. 200.23, as provided under s. 200.27 (2) (a); and to a joint sewerage system created under s. 281.43 (4), as provided under s. 281.43 (4) (d).

24.66(2r) (2r) For town sanitary districts. Every application for a loan under this section to a town sanitary district created under s. 60.71 shall be approved and authorized by a majority of the commissioners of the district.

24.66(3) (3) For school districts.

24.66(3)(a) (a) For long-term loans by common, union high and 1st class city school districts. Every application for a loan, the required repayment of which exceeds 10 years, shall be approved and authorized for a common, union high or 1st class city school district by a vote of a majority of its legal voters voting on this question. If the vote is taken at a special meeting the objects thereof shall be clearly stated in the notice of the meeting. The application shall state the facts in detail respecting the holding of the meeting, and the taking and the result of the vote required. The application shall be signed by a majority of the members of the district board and verified by the clerk. The statement accompanying the application shall contain a correct map or plat of the district. If the district is a joint district, the statement accompanying the application shall show the assessed valuation in its several parts separately, so that the valuation of each part of the district which lies in each town or municipality may be readily shown.

24.66(3)(am) (am) For short-term loans by common, union high and 1st class city school districts. Every application for a loan, the required repayment of which is 10 years or less, shall be approved and authorized for a common, union high or 1st class city school district under par. (a) or (c), to the extent applicable.

24.66(3)(b) (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 as provided under sub. (4).

24.66(3)(bm) (bm) For short-term loans by unified school districts. Every application for a loan, the required repayment of which is 10 years or less, shall be approved and authorized for a unified school district under par. (b) or (c), to the extent applicable.

24.66(3)(c) (c) Alternative short-term loan process for all school districts.

24.66(3)(c)1. 1. If the procedure in par. (a) or (b) is not used for the approval of a school district loan, the required repayment of which is 10 years or less, the governing body of the school district, before any certificate of indebtedness is issued, shall adopt and record a resolution specifying the purposes and the maximum amount of the certificate of indebtedness issued.

24.66(3)(c)2. 2. Unless the purpose and amount of the borrowing have been approved by the electors under s. 67.05 (6a) or considered approved by the electors under s. 67.05 (7) (d) 3., the purpose is to refund any outstanding obligation, the purpose is to pay unfunded prior service liability contributions under the Wisconsin Retirement System if all of the proceeds of the note will be used for that purpose, or the borrowing would not be subject to a referendum as a bond issue under s. 67.05 (7) (cc), (er), (h), or (i), or s. 67.12 (12) (e) 2g., (f), or (h) applies, the school district clerk shall, within 10 days after a governing body of a school district adopts a resolution as described above to issue a certificate of indebtedness, publish notice of such adoption as a class 1 notice, under ch. 985. Alternatively, the notice may be posted as provided under s. 10.05. The notice need not set forth the full contents of the resolution, but shall state the maximum amount proposed to be borrowed, the purpose thereof, that the resolution was adopted under this subsection, and the place where, and the hours during which, the resolution may be inspected. If, within 30 days after publication or posting, a petition conforming to the requirements of s. 8.40 is filed with the school district clerk for a referendum on the resolution signed by at least 7,500 electors of the district or at least 20 percent of the number of district electors voting for governor at the last general election, as determined under s. 115.01 (13), whichever is the lesser, then the resolution shall not be effective unless adopted by a majority of the district electors voting at the referendum. The referendum shall be called in the manner provided under s. 67.05 (6a), except that the question which appears on the ballot shall be “Shall .... (name of district) borrow the sum of $.... for (state purpose) by issuing its general obligation promissory note (or notes) under section 24.66 (3) of the Wisconsin Statutes?”. If a governing body of a school district adopts a resolution to borrow a sum of money under this subsection and a sufficient petition for referendum is not filed within the time permitted, then the power of the governing body of a school district to borrow the sum and expend the sum for the purpose stated shall be deemed approved by the school district electors upon the expiration of the time for filing the petition.

24.66(3)(c)3. 3. If the governing body of a school district adopts a resolution to borrow a sum of money under this subsection, and if subd. 2. does not apply, the governing body of a school district has the power to borrow and spend the sum for the purpose stated without the approval of the electors of the school district.

24.66(3m) (3m) For educational technology or distance education loans. An application by a county, city, village or town to undertake an educational technology or distance education project shall be accompanied by a resolution of the county or municipal library board for that county, city, village or town requesting the county, city, village or town to apply for the loan for the purpose of conducting an educational technology or distance education project.

24.66(3r) (3r) For a drainage district. An application for a loan by a drainage district created under ch. 88 shall be accompanied by a certified copy of a resolution of the board of the drainage district approving the loan.

24.66(3s) (3s) For cooperative educational service agencies. An application for a loan by a cooperative educational service agency shall be accompanied by a certified copy of a resolution of the board of control of the agency approving the loan and shall contain satisfactory proof of the valuation of all taxable property within each school district for which the loan is sought as equalized for state purposes, of the existing indebtedness of each such school district and of approval of the application by each school district in the same manner as provided for a loan to that school district for the same amount and terms under sub. (3).

24.66(3v) (3v) For federated public library systems. An application for a loan by a federated public library system shall be accompanied by a certified copy of a resolution of the board of the federated public library system approving the loan.

24.66(3w) (3w) Local professional baseball park district. An application for a loan by a local professional baseball park district created under subch. III of ch. 229 shall be accompanied by a certified copy of a resolution of the district board of the local professional baseball park district approving the loan.

24.66(3y) (3y) Local exposition district. An application for a loan by a local exposition district created under subch. II of ch. 229 shall be accompanied by a certified copy of a resolution of the district board of the local exposition district approving the loan.

24.66(4) (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 called, noticed and held in the manner provided for other special elections. The question to be voted on shall be filed as provided in s. 8.37. The notice of the election shall state the amount of the proposed loan and the purpose for which it will be used.

24.66(5) (5) Irrepealable tax levy.

24.66(5)(a) (a) Every application for a general obligation trust fund loan under this section by a municipality shall be accompanied by a certified copy under the hand of the proper clerk of a recorded resolution adopted by the municipality applying for or approving the loan, levying, except as provided in par. (b), upon all the taxable property of the municipality a direct annual tax for the purpose of paying and sufficient to pay the principal and interest on the proposed loan as they become due. In a 1st class city school district, the application shall be accompanied by a certified copy of a resolution, adopted by the board of school directors, stating that it is the intention of the board of school directors to include in its budget transmitted to the common council under s. 119.16 (8) (b) a written notice specifying the amount of money necessary to pay the principal and interest on the loan as they become due. Every application for a general obligation trust fund loan under this subsection by a cooperative educational service agency shall be accompanied by a copy of a recorded resolution adopted by the school board of each school district for which the loan is sought, certified by the school district clerk of that school district, levying upon all taxable property of the school district a direct annual tax for the purpose of paying and sufficient to pay the school district’s share of the principal and interest on the proposed loan as they become due. The levy imposed by the municipality shall be void if the board declines to make the loan; otherwise it shall remain valid and irrepealable until the loan and all interest on the loan are fully paid.

24.66(5)(b) (b) To the extent that the proceeds of a loan to a municipality will be used in a utility district established under s. 66.0827, the direct annual tax under par. (a) may be levied in whole or in part upon all taxable property within the utility district.

24.66(6) (6) Proceedings to be recorded and become conclusive evidence. The application, statement and all accompanying exhibits and documents shall be recorded in the office of the board and, together with the record, is conclusive evidence of the facts stated.

24.66 History History: 1979 c. 221, 355; 1981 c. 169; Stats. 1981 s. 24.66; 1983 a. 196, 423; 1985 a. 49, 218, 225; 1987 a. 76, 79; 1995 a. 27, 227, 417; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 1999 a. 182; 2001 a. 16; 2001 a. 30 s. 108; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 2, 28; 2011 a. 71; 2015 a. 55, 60; 2021 a. 239 s. 74.

24.67 24.67 Certificates of indebtedness.

24.67(1) (1) If the board approves the application, it shall cause certificates of indebtedness to be prepared in proper form and transmitted to the municipality, cooperative educational service agency, local exposition district created under subch. II of ch. 229, local professional baseball park district created under subch. III of ch. 229, or federated public library system submitting the application. The certificate of indebtedness shall be executed and signed:

24.67(1)(a) (a) For a school district, by its president.

24.67(1)(b) (b) For a town, by its chairperson.

24.67(1)(c) (c) For a village, by its president.

24.67(1)(d) (d) For a city, by its mayor or city manager.

24.67(1)(e) (e) For a technical college district, by its district board chairperson.

24.67(1)(f) (f) For a county, by the chairperson of its board.

24.67(1)(g) (g) For a public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district, by the chairperson of the board of commissioners.

24.67(1)(h) (h) For a town sanitary district, by the president of the commission.

24.67(1)(i) (i) For a metropolitan sewerage district created under s. 200.05, by the president of the commission.

24.67(1)(j) (j) For a metropolitan sewerage system created under s. 200.23, by the chairperson of the commission.

24.67(1)(k) (k) For a joint sewerage system, by the head of the commission.

24.67(1)(L) (L) For a cooperative educational service agency, by the president of each school district for which the loan is made.

24.67(1)(m) (m) For a federated public library system, by its president.

24.67(1)(n) (n) For a drainage district created under ch. 88, by the president of the drainage district board.

24.67(1)(p) (p) For a local professional baseball park district created under subch. III of ch. 229, by the chairperson of the district board.

24.67(1)(q) (q) For a local exposition district created under subch. II of ch. 229, by the chairperson of the district board.

24.67(2) (2) The certificate of indebtedness shall be countersigned:

24.67(2)(a) (a) For the county, town, village, or city, by the clerk of that county, town, village, or city.

24.67(2)(b) (b) For a technical college district, by the district board secretary who shall return the certificate and deposit it with the board.

24.67(2)(c) (c) For a public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district, by the secretary of the board of commissioners.

24.67(2)(d) (d) For a town sanitary district, by the secretary of the commission.

24.67(2)(e) (e) For a metropolitan sewerage district created under s. 200.05, by the secretary of the commission.

24.67(2)(f) (f) For a metropolitan sewerage system created under s. 200.23, by the secretary of the commission.

24.67(2)(g) (g) For a joint sewerage system, by a member of the commission designated by the commission who is not the person acting as head of the commission.

24.67(2)(h) (h) For a federated public library system, by a member of the federated public library system board designated by that board who is not the president of that board.

24.67(2)(i) (i) For a drainage district created under ch. 88, by the secretary of the drainage district board.

24.67(2)(j) (j) For a local professional baseball park district created under subch. III of ch. 229, by the secretary of the district board.

24.67(3) (3) If a municipality has acted under subs. (1) and (2), it shall certify that fact to the board. Upon receiving a certification from a municipality, or upon direction of the board if a loan is made to a cooperative educational service agency, drainage district created under ch. 88, local exposition district created under subch. II of ch. 229, local professional baseball park district created under subch. III of ch. 229, or federated public library system, the board shall disburse the loan amount, payable to the treasurer of the municipality, cooperative educational service agency, drainage district, or federated public library system making the loan or as the treasurer of the municipality, cooperative educational service agency, drainage district, local exposition district, local professional baseball park district, or federated public library system directs. The certificate of indebtedness shall then be conclusive evidence of the validity of the indebtedness and that all the requirements of law concerning the application for the making and acceptance of the loan have been complied with.

24.67 History History: 1971 c. 154; 1979 c. 221; 1981 c. 169; Stats. 1981 s. 24.67; 1987 a. 76; 1993 a. 184, 399, 491; 1995 a. 27; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 2001 a. 16; 2001 a. 30 s. 108; 2003 a. 33; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 71; 2015 a. 60.

24.68 24.68 Payment of state trust fund loans. All the taxable property in any municipality which obtains a general obligation trust fund loan shall stand charged for the payment of the principal and interest on that loan.

24.68 History History: 1979 c. 221; 1981 c. 169; Stats. 1981 s. 24.68; 1987 a. 378; 2011 a. 71.

24.69 24.69 Sale of state trust fund loans.

24.69(1) (1) The board may sell state trust fund loans or participations therein, and may contract to do so at a future date, for such price, upon such other terms and in such manner as the board may determine. The sale may be to any person, including, without limitation, a trust or other investment vehicle created for the purpose of attracting private investment capital. The board shall remit the proceeds of the sale to the secretary of administration for deposit in the appropriate trust fund and shall invest the proceeds in accordance with s. 24.61.

24.69(2) (2) Before entering into the sale of any state trust fund loan, the board shall refer the terms of the proposed sale to the investment board for its recommendations.

24.69(3) (3) The board may agree to administer any state trust fund loan so sold or participated, and, in connection therewith, may exercise the collection powers and procedures set forth in ss. 24.70 and 24.71 and may agree to repurchase any such state trust fund loan or participation upon the occurrence of a default thereon or upon the occurrence of other events specified in the sale agreement.

24.69(4) (4) The board shall invest the proceeds of the sale of trust fund loans or participations therein in a manner that, to the greatest extent practicable, will ensure the safety of the principal.

24.69 History History: 1989 a. 31; 2003 a. 33.

24.70 24.70 Collection from borrowers other than school districts.

24.70(1) (1) Applicability. This section applies to all outstanding state trust fund loans to borrowers other than school districts, drainage districts created under ch. 88, local professional baseball park districts created under subch. III of ch. 229, and federated public library systems.

24.70(2) (2) Certified statement. If a borrower other than a school district has a state trust fund loan, the board shall transmit to the clerk of the jurisdiction, or the person signing the application on behalf of the borrower in the case of a cooperative educational service agency, a certified statement of the amount due on or before October 1 of each year until the loan is repaid. The board shall submit a copy of each certified statement to the secretary of administration. A cooperative educational service agency shall transmit a copy of the statement to the clerk of each school district on behalf of which the agency has obtained a loan.

24.70(3) (3) Amount added to municipal levy. Upon receipt of a certified statement by a municipal clerk, the municipal clerk shall then cause the amount to be added to the municipal levy and collected in the same manner as the municipal tax except the amount for the state trust fund loan shall be separately designated. Upon receipt of a certified statement by a school district clerk from a cooperative educational service agency, the clerk shall cause the amount for which the district is responsible under s. 24.61 (7) to be added to the school district levy and collected in the same manner as the school district tax, except that the amount for the loan shall be separately stated. This subsection does not apply to revenue obligation trust fund loans.

24.70(4) (4) Payment to board. The treasurer of each municipality shall remit to the board on its order the full amount due for state trust fund loans within 15 days after March 15. Each cooperative educational service agency shall similarly remit the annual amount owed on any state trust fund loan made to the agency by that date. Any payment not made by March 30 is delinquent and is subject to a penalty of one percent per month to be paid to the board with the delinquent payment.

24.70(6) (6) Failure to make payments. If any municipality fails to remit the amount due by the date specified under sub. (4), the board shall file a certified statement of the delinquent amount with the department of administration. The secretary of administration shall collect the amount due, including any penalty, by deducting that amount from any state payments due the municipality, shall notify the treasurer and the board of that action, and shall immediately remit to the board any amounts deducted from any state payments due to the municipality.

24.70 History History: 1979 c. 221; 1981 c. 169; Stats. 1981 s. 24.70; 1987 a. 185, 378; 1995 a. 27; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 33; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 2, 28; 2011 a. 71.

24.71 24.71 Collections from school districts.

24.71(1) (1) Applicability. This section applies to all outstanding trust fund loans to school districts.

24.71(2) (2) Certified statement. If a school district has a state trust fund loan, the board shall transmit to the school district clerk a certified statement of the amount due on or before October 1 of each year until the loan is paid. The board shall furnish a copy of each certified statement to the secretary of administration and the department of public instruction.

24.71(3) (3) Added to school district levy. The school district clerk shall then cause the amount due to be added to the school district levy and collected in the same manner as the school district tax except the amount for state trust fund loans shall be separately designated. This subsection does not apply to revenue obligation trust fund loans.

24.71(4) (4) Payment to board. The school district treasurer shall remit to the board the full amount due for state trust fund loans within 15 days after March 15. Any payment not made by March 30 is delinquent and is subject to a penalty of one percent per month or fraction thereof, to be paid to the board with the delinquent payment.

24.71(5) (5) Failure to make payment. If the school district treasurer fails to remit the amounts due under sub. (4), the state superintendent, upon certification of delinquency by the board, shall deduct the amount due including any penalty from any school aid payments due the school district, shall remit such amount to the board and, no later than June 15, shall notify the school district treasurer to that effect.

24.71 History History: 1971 c. 262; 1973 c. 90; 1979 c. 221; 1981 c. 169; Stats. 1981 s. 24.71; 1987 a. 185; 1995 a. 27 s. 9145 (1); 1997 a. 27; 2003 a. 33; 2009 a. 2; 2011 a. 71.

24.715 24.715 Collections from federated public library systems.

24.715(1) (1) Applicability. This section applies to all outstanding trust fund loans to federated public library systems.

24.715(2) (2) Certified statement. If a federated public library system has a state trust fund loan, the board shall transmit to the system board a certified statement of the amount due on or before October 1 of each year until the loan is paid. The board shall furnish a copy of each certified statement to the state treasurer and the department of public instruction.

24.715(3) (3) Payment to board. The system board shall remit to the board on its own order the full amount due for state trust fund loans within 15 days after March 15. Any payment not made by March 30 is delinquent and is subject to a penalty of one percent per month or fraction thereof, to be paid to the board with the delinquent payment.

24.715(4) (4) Failure to make payment. If the system board fails to remit the amounts due under sub. (3), the state superintendent, upon certification of delinquency by the board, shall deduct the amount due, including any penalty, from any aid payments due the system, shall remit such amount to the board and, no later than June 15, shall notify the system board to that effect.

24.715 History History: 2001 a. 16, 104; 2009 a. 2; 2011 a. 71.

24.716 24.716 Collections from drainage districts.

24.716(1) (1) Applicability. This section applies to all outstanding trust fund loans to drainage districts created under ch. 88.

24.716(2) (2) Certified statement. If a drainage district has a state trust fund loan, the board shall transmit to the district board a certified statement of the amount due on or before October 1 of each year until the loan is paid. The board shall furnish a copy of each certified statement to the department of administration.

24.716(3) (3) Payment to board. The district board shall remit to the board on its own order the full amount due for state trust fund loans within 15 days after March 15. Any payment not made by March 30 is delinquent and is subject to a penalty of 1 percent per month or fraction thereof, to be paid to the board with the delinquent payment.

24.716(4) (4) Failure to make payment. If the district board fails to remit the amounts due under sub. (3), the secretary of administration, upon certification of delinquency by the board of commissioners of public lands, shall deduct the amount due, including any penalty, from any state aid payments due the district, shall remit such amount to the board, and, no later than June 15, shall notify the district board to that effect.