Chapter 59

59.84(2)(d)7. 7. Before the county authorizes any person to use or develop lands under subd. 6., the county shall make a reasonable effort to determine whether any institution of higher education in the vicinity of the lands has demonstrated to the county an interest in the use or development of the lands. The county shall give preference to proposals for the use or development of lands under subd. 6. which are submitted by an institution of higher education in the vicinity of those lands and which provide for reasonable payment to the county under a lease of or other authority to use or develop those lands.

59.84(2)(e) (e) Contracts. The board may construct and administer projects under its jurisdiction, and may contract in the name of the county with the department of transportation as may be necessary under state and federal statutes to secure state and federal aid on expressway projects.

59.84(2)(f) (f) Vacation, relocation, reconstruction of streets, alleys, etc.

59.84(2)(f)1. 1. Whenever the board determines that it is necessary for the proper construction of an expressway project that streets or alleys be vacated in whole or in part, or be dead-ended at the expressway right-of-way line; that existing streets or alleys be relocated; that new streets or alleys be laid out and opened; that accessory streets or ramps to serve as approaches to the expressway be constructed; that existing streets leading to or from expressway ramps be designated as one-way streets for such reasonable distance as is necessary for the proper operation of the facility; that the grade of existing streets be changed or that the traveled portion of existing streets be widened and improved so as to facilitate entrance to the expressway, it shall formulate a tentative order evidencing such requirement and file a certified copy thereof with the municipal clerk of each municipality affected by the tentative order for consideration thereof by the governing body of the municipality.

59.84(2)(f)2. 2. The governing body or the committee which the governing body designates shall hold a public hearing to consider the tentative order and shall publish in the county a class 2 notice, under ch. 985, of the hearing.

59.84(2)(f)3. 3. If the tentative order is not approved within 90 days from the date of the filing, the board shall present the tentative order to the department of transportation, which shall hold a public hearing on the order, of which hearing the municipality in question shall be given notice. The department of transportation shall have jurisdiction to pass upon the necessity and reasonableness of the proposed tentative order, and it may approve, modify and approve or disapprove the order. The department’s decision shall be final, with no review allowed under ch. 227.

59.84(2)(f)4. 4. If the tentative order is approved by the governing body of the municipality affected, or if it is approved or modified and approved by the department of transportation, the board may thereafter issue a final order identical with the original tentative order as modified by the department’s decision. A certified copy of the final order shall be filed with the municipal clerk of the municipality affected. Notice of the making of the order shall be published in the county as a class 1 notice, under ch. 985.

59.84(2)(f)5. 5. The governing body of the municipality shall, within 30 days after filing, take the necessary action to comply with the order and in so doing shall not be limited by the objections of an abutting owner, and s. 66.1005 (2) shall not be applicable to any vacation or discontinuance required by the order, and any such municipality may act upon the initiative of its governing body without the necessity of obtaining the consent of an abutting owner, notwithstanding chs. 60, 61, 62 and 66 and s. 66.1005 (2) and any other provisions of law to the contrary.

59.84(2)(f)6. 6. If the municipality does not comply with the order within a reasonable time, the board may perform the work required by the order with its own forces or by contract and in so doing and for such purpose shall have the same powers and freedom from limitations as are vested by chs. 60, 61, 62 and 66 and this subsection in the governing body of the municipality.

59.84(2)(f)7. 7. The plans, specifications, proposed contracts and the appraisal of damages, if any, caused to abutting owners by compliance with the order shall be subject to approval by the board before the commencement of any work under the order but the requirement for approval of the order shall not affect the abutting property owners’ rights of appeal from the determination of damages by the commissioner of public works of the city or by any other authorized person or body.

59.84(2)(f)8. 8. The cost of performing such work as may be required by any order of the board under this subsection, including damages granted for changes of legally established grade or necessary acquisition of lands, shall be paid by the county from expressway funds as an item of the particular expressway project budget upon presentation of vouchers which have been approved for payment by the governing body of the municipality and the board. If the payment made by the county has been increased by reason of the municipality requesting an expenditure in excess of replacement or termination costs, the municipality shall reimburse the county for the excess cost. The reimbursement shall be credited by the county to abatement of the respective expense for which it was received.

59.84(2)(g) (g) Relocation of municipal utilities.

59.84(2)(g)1. 1. The board, subject to approval by the public service commission after public hearing to all interested parties in cases in which the public service commission would have jurisdiction, may by order require any municipality through which an expressway project is to be constructed to remove, relocate and replace in kind or with equal facilities, or if the municipality shall request enlarged facilities, any sewer, street lighting or other like utility service the location of which interferes with construction of an expressway project. If enlarged facilities are requested the municipality shall bear that part of the cost of the improvement which exceeds the cost of the replacement of the existing facility in kind or with equal materials or facilities. However the board shall bear the excess cost where the installation of the enlarged facility is caused by designed construction and use of the expressway. A certified copy of the order shall be filed with the municipal clerk of each municipality affected and upon the filing each municipality shall within 30 days take the necessary action to comply with the order. All plans, specifications and contracts for any of the work shall be subject to approval by the board. When the work under specific contracts has been completed and approved by the governing body of the municipality and the board, the county shall pay for the work from expressway funds as an item of the particular expressway project budget. If the payments made by the county exceed the replacement costs and the additional cost was incurred at the specific request of the municipality, the municipality shall reimburse the county therefor. The reimbursement shall be credited by the county as an abatement of the expenses for which the reimbursement is received. If considered feasible and desirable by the board any work provided for in this paragraph may be performed by the board or directly by contract. In such cases the municipality in which the work is performed shall cooperate with the board.

59.84(2)(g)2. 2. With respect to any water utility of any municipality which utility, in addition to providing water for human consumption, performs governmental functions in the way of providing water for fire protection, sewerage operation, street sanitation, park bathing pools and the like, the board shall have the same powers and be subject to the same obligations as are provided in subd. 1. However, water storage tanks, water pumping stations and water reservoirs may be removed, relocated and replaced by the board only with the consent and approval of the municipality owning and operating the facilities.

59.84(2)(h) (h) Private occupancy of streets; relocation.

59.84(2)(h)1. 1. All persons other than those mentioned in par. (g) lawfully having buildings, structures, works, conduits, mains, pipes, wires, poles, tracks or any other physical facilities in, over or under the public lands, streets, highways, alleys, parks or parkways of the county, or of any municipality therein, which in the opinion of the board in any manner interfere with the construction of an expressway project or the relocation or maintenance of such a project, shall upon order by the board promptly so accommodate, relocate or remove the interfering physical facilities.

59.84(2)(h)2. 2. Whenever the board proposes to consider adoption of an expressway project, it shall give notice of the proposal to each privately owned public utility or other person affected by the project indicating in the notice the action which it desires the utility or person to take, and the utility or person shall within 90 days after receipt of the notice furnish to the board its plan to comply with the request.

59.84(2)(h)3. 3. When the utility, under the board’s order, proceeds with the work in a manner satisfactory to the board, the county shall pay the utility from expressways funds upon monthly estimates of work performed and submitted for payment by the utility, two-thirds of the net cost incurred by the utility in performing the work, after deducting reasonable and fair credits for items salvaged, for any betterments made at the option of the company and for the value as carried on the utility’s books, of the used life of a facility retired from use if the service life of the new facility will extend beyond the expectancy of the one removed. The county shall not be liable to pay any value for utility facilities where use of the facilities has been abandoned for reasons other than the construction or proposed construction of an expressway project even though the installation is intact.

59.84(2)(h)4. 4. The board and any utility that is required to accommodate, relocate or remove a utility facility described in subd. 1. may by agreement provide for the respective amounts of the cost to be borne by each so as to resolve a dispute as to the allowance of charges and credits set forth in this paragraph. When the agreement has been concluded, the county shall pay out of expressway funds its share of the cost upon monthly estimates of work performed and submitted for payment by the utility.

59.84(2)(h)5. 5. If the board and any privately owned public utility are unable to agree as to the division of the costs, either may appeal to the public service commission, which shall determine the proper amounts of reimbursement according to the provisions expressed in this paragraph. Either party may petition the circuit court for review of the public service commission’s decision in the manner provided in s. 227.53. If it is determined upon such review that the county has paid more than two-thirds of the net cost of compliance by a utility with the board’s order, any overage shall be reimbursed to the county by the utility.

59.84(2)(h)6. 6. No appeal shall delay the construction of the expressway project or compliance by the privately owned public utilities with the orders of the board. Compliance shall not prejudice the rights of either the board or the utilities in any pending appeal.

59.84(2)(h)7. 7. If a person refuses to comply with an order of the board as promulgated under this paragraph, the board may apply to the circuit court for a writ of assistance to compel compliance, and the person shall be liable for all damages caused to the board by the delay.

59.84(2)(h)8. 8. If a railroad track and an expressway project cross, ss. 195.28 to 195.29 shall apply.

59.84(2)(h)9. 9. The reimbursement of private utilities under this paragraph shall be limited to expressway projects as provided in this section.

59.84(2)(i) (i) Entry on private lands. The board, its agents or servants, may enter any land in the county for the purpose of making surveys, test borings or any other type of examination necessary in the performance of its duties and shall be liable to restore the surface of the lands to the same or as good condition as existed at the time of the entry and for any other actual and demonstrable damage caused to the lands by the entry.

59.84(2)(j) (j) Traffic types and speed limits. After an expressway project has been certified as completed, the public body having jurisdiction over the maintenance thereof shall have the power to regulate the type of vehicular use of such portion of the expressway except as limited by federal and state laws and regulations, and the power to fix speed limits thereon not in excess of the maximum speed limits for state trunk highways, and to provide and enforce reasonable penalties for infraction of such vehicular use regulation or speed limits. Notwithstanding s. 346.16 (2), the use of the expressways by pedestrians, mopeds, motor bicycles, motor scooters, bicycles, electric scooters, electric personal assistive mobility devices, off-road utility vehicles, lightweight utility vehicles as defined in s. 346.94 (21) (a) 2. except when used to cross an expressway, funeral processions, and animals on foot and the hauling of oversized equipment without special permit shall be prohibited when an ordinance in conformity with this section and, with respect to prohibiting the use of electric personal assistive mobility devices, in conformity with s. 349.236 (1) (a) or (b), and with respect to prohibiting the use of electric scooters, in conformity with s. 349.237, is enacted by the board, but a forfeiture provided therein shall not exceed the maximum forfeiture under s. 346.17 (2). The board may not prohibit the towing of disabled vehicles on expressways, except that the board may prohibit the towing of disabled vehicles during the peak hours of 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. as established under county ordinance and except that the board may establish procedures for and may contract for the towing of vehicles which have become disabled on the expressway.

59.84(2)(k) (k) Building permits on lands in expressway routes. Each municipality through which a route of the approved expressway plan, as amended from time to time, shall pass, shall be given a formal notice of the route and a map thereof. Thereafter, when an owner of land within the right-of-way of an expressway indicated on the map applies for a building permit affecting such lands, final action on the application shall be deferred for a reasonable time not exceeding 60 days and the municipality shall within 5 days after receipt of the application notify the board thereof.

59.84(2)(L) (L) Forces to construct expressway projects. The board may use its own employees to construct expressway projects in whole or in part.

59.84(2)(m) (m) Rules and regulations. The board shall have power to make all rules and regulations concerning its work.

59.84(2)(n) (n) Meetings; reports. The board shall hold meetings for the transaction of business under this section and all such meetings shall be open to the public. The board shall prepare annually a report of its official transactions and expenditures under this section and shall mail the statement to the governor, to the mayor of the largest city in the county and to the chief executive officer of the governing bodies of all municipalities in the county.

59.84(2)(o) (o) Applicability of pars. (a) to (n). Paragraphs (a) to (n) also apply, as far as applicable, to the exercise of the powers and duties of the board in the planning and construction of mass transit facilities.

59.84(4) (4) Transfer of prior expressway studies and reports. The county expressway and transportation commission that is created under s. 59.965 (2), 1977 stats., and the governmental authorities of the largest city in the county shall transfer and deliver to the board the original or certified copy of all maps and engineering studies and reports pertaining to an expressways system in the city and county, together with all contracts pertaining to the creation and construction of expressways. Upon demand by the board the largest city in the county with the approval of the common council shall execute and deliver to the county quitclaim deeds of all lands acquired, dedicated or owned by the city and needed for the purpose of right-of-way for the expressways, if the cost of the lands was included in the determination of prior expressway expenditures.

59.84(6) (6) Reimbursement for prior expressway financing. Municipalities shall be reimbursed for prior expressway project expenditures. Expressway projects under construction at the time the county expressway and transportation commission was created and the transfer of functions to the commission was effectuated under s. 59.965, 1977 stats., shall be completed by the board. Such municipalities shall be reimbursed for prior expressway expenditures and obligations incurred for the cost of right-of-way acquisition and clearance, construction engineering, and actual construction to the extent of the municipalities’ contribution from tax levy or bond funds. Each such municipality shall calculate its contribution and certify the contribution with full data to the board. It shall then be subject to consideration, audit and approval by the board. If approved by the board, reimbursement shall be made on a 10-year installment basis by levying a tax against all the municipalities of the county on an equalized valuation basis, and offsetting the amount thereof to the municipalities entitled to reimbursement.

59.84(7) (7) Agreements for use of federal aid to retire maturities. The department of transportation and the board may enter into an agreement providing that when the proceeds of bonds issued by the county are expended in the improvement of a portion of the federal aid highway system as a part of the comprehensive expressway system in the county, and are so expended under ch. 84, and in compliance with section 5 of the federal aid highway act of 1950, or acts amendatory to such section, and regulations applicable thereto, the sum of money derived from federal aid for highways which may be authorized by the congress and apportioned to this state for any fiscal year as shall be stipulated in the agreement may be applied to aid in retirement of annual maturities of the principal indebtedness of such bonds, and that to the extent that federal aid can be claimed and received by the state for such purpose, it will upon receipt be paid to the county. Any money so paid shall be deposited by the county in the sinking fund provided for the retirement of the bond issue of which the bonds formed a part.

59.84(8) (8) Agreements for state aid to retire maturities. The department of transportation may enter into a contract with the board providing that, to the extent that the proceeds of bonds issued by the county are expended under ch. 84 in the improvement of state trunk highways or connecting highways, in addition to the agreed county share of the improvement and for which the county has not been or will not be reimbursed with federal funds, such sum as may be approved by the department of transportation in any fiscal year will be paid to the county to aid in retirement of the annual maturities of the principal indebtedness of the bonds from funds appropriated and available to the department of transportation for the improvement of state trunk highways or connecting highways. Payments may be made under the agreement, before or after the bonds mature, from funds appropriated and available to the department of transportation for the improvement of state trunk highways or connecting highways after making provision for adequate maintenance and traffic service, but this section or the agreement shall not constitute a commitment on the part of this state or the county to provide the funds. Any money so paid shall be deposited by the county in its sinking fund created for the purpose of payment of the bond issue of which the bonds formed a part.

59.84(9) (9) Staff.

59.84(9)(a) (a) Other departments and officers. The staff of the county highway department, under the direction of the county highway commissioner, shall perform all technical work required by the board. Any municipality having an expressway staff shall, upon request of the county board, transfer the staff to the county, and the agents and employees of the municipal staff shall thereupon become integrated into county civil service in the county highway department. The board may hire upon a contract basis such expert consultant services as it considers necessary to assist in the planning of the expressway system.

59.84(9)(b) (b) Records and equipment. The board shall provide a suitable place where the maps, plans, documents, and records of the board that relate to this section shall be kept, subject to public inspection at all reasonable hours and under reasonable regulations that the board may prescribe.

59.84(10) (10) Maintenance and operation.

59.84(10)(a) (a) Maintenance and operation. Whenever any expressway project is opened to traffic, the certification of such fact shall be filed with the clerk of the municipality in which the project is located. The notice shall be filed by the department of transportation in all cases where the construction contract has been awarded by the department of transportation, or by the board where the construction contract has been awarded by the board. Thereafter the portion of the expressway system included in such opening shall be operated and maintained by the county, but if an expressway project is selected and designated as a state trunk or interstate highway that portion of the expressway shall be maintained by the state. The maintenance responsibility of the county or state shall include all areas within the right-of-way fence lines and between the right-of-way fence lines and the curb lines of adjacent streets, except that connecting ramps constructed as a part of the expressway system shall be included in such maintenance to the near curb lines of the street with which they connect. All areas not specifically included within these described limits shall be maintained by the municipality in which the expressway is located, except that the state or county shall maintain the structural parts of bridges carrying local traffic over the expressway, including generally the footings, piers, columns, abutments and structural girders.

59.84(10)(b) (b) Policing of expressways. Expressways shall be policed by the sheriff who may, when necessary, request and shall receive cooperation and assistance from the police departments of each municipality in which expressways are located, but nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to deprive such police departments of the power of exercising law enforcement on such expressways within their respective jurisdictions.

59.84(11) (11) Designated standing committee. The board may designate a standing committee to perform the duties and to exercise the powers of the board under this section, except those powers and duties in sub. (2) (a) and (b). All actions of the standing committee under this section may be modified and shall be approved or disapproved by the board.

59.84 History History: 1971 c. 164; 1973 c. 333 s. 201w; 1977 c. 29 ss. 673, 1654 (3), (8) (c), (d), (e); 1977 c. 70, 203, 338; 1979 c. 310 ss. 3 to 8, 10, 12; 1981 c. 347 s. 80 (2), (3); 1981 c. 390; 1983 a. 207 s. 95; 1983 a. 243; 1983 a. 501 s. 16; 1985 a. 29, 187; 1987 a. 27; 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 201 s. 464; Stats. 1995 s. 59.84; 1995 a. 225 s. 173; 1997 a. 35; 1999 a. 83; 2001 a. 90; 2003 a. 192, 214; 2009 a. 157; 2017 a. 207 s. 5; 2019 a. 11.

59.84 Note NOTE: 2003 Wis. Act 214, which affected this section, contains extensive explanatory notes.

59.85 59.85 Appropriation bonds for payment of employee retirement system liability in populous counties.

59.85(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

59.85(1)(a) (a) “Appropriation bond” means a bond issued by a county to evidence its obligation to repay a certain amount of borrowed money that is payable from all of the following:

59.85(1)(a)1. 1. Moneys annually appropriated by law for debt service due with respect to such appropriation bond in that year.

59.85(1)(a)2. 2. Proceeds of the sale of such appropriation bonds.

59.85(1)(a)3. 3. Payments received for that purpose under agreements and ancillary arrangements described in s. 59.86.

59.85(1)(a)4. 4. Investment earnings on amounts in subds. 1. to 3.

59.85(1)(b) (b) “Board” means the county board of supervisors in any county.

59.85(1)(c) (c) “Bond” means any bond, note, or other obligation of a county issued under this section.

59.85(1)(d) (d) “County” means any county having a population of 750,000 or more.

59.85(1)(e) (e) “Refunding bond” means an appropriation bond issued to fund or refund all or any part of one or more outstanding pension-related bonds.

59.85(1m) (1m) Legislative finding and determination. Recognizing that a county, by prepaying part or all of the county’s unfunded prior service liability with respect to an employee retirement system of the county, may reduce its costs and better ensure the timely and full payment of retirement benefits to participants and their beneficiaries under the employee retirement system, the legislature finds and determines that it is in the public interest for the county to issue appropriation bonds to obtain proceeds to pay its unfunded prior service liability.

59.85(2) (2) Authorization of appropriation bonds.

59.85(2)(a) (a) A board shall have all powers necessary and convenient to carry out its duties, and to exercise its authority, under this section.

59.85(2)(b) (b) Subject to pars. (c) and (d), a county may issue appropriation bonds under this section to pay all or any part of the county’s unfunded prior service liability with respect to an employee retirement system of the county, or to fund or refund outstanding appropriation bonds issued under this section. A county may use proceeds of appropriation bonds to pay issuance or administrative expenses, to make deposits to reserve funds, to pay accrued or funded interest, to pay the costs of credit enhancement, to make payments under other agreements entered into under s. 59.86, or to make deposits to stabilization funds established under s. 59.87.

59.85(2)(c) (c) Other than refunding bonds issued under sub. (6), all bonds must be issued simultaneously.

59.85(2)(d) (d)

59.85(2)(d)1. 1. Before a county may issue appropriation bonds under par. (b), its board shall enact an ordinance that establishes a 5-year strategic and financial plan related to the payment of all or any part of the county’s unfunded prior service liability with respect to an employee retirement system of the county. The strategic and financial plan shall provide that future annual pension liabilities are funded on a current basis. The strategic and financial plan shall contain quantifiable benchmarks to measure compliance with the plan. The board shall make a determination that the ordinance meets the requirements of this subdivision and, absent manifest error, the board’s determination shall be conclusive. The board 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 copy of the strategic and financial plan.

59.85(2)(d)2. 2. Annually, the county comptroller under s. 59.255 shall submit to the governor, the department of revenue, and the department of administration, and to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2), a report that includes all of the following:

59.85(2)(d)2.a. a. The county’s progress in meeting the benchmarks in the strategic and financial plan.

59.85(2)(d)2.b. b. Any proposed modifications to the plan.

59.85(2)(d)2.c. c. The status of any stabilization fund that is established under s. 59.87 (3).

59.85(2)(d)2.d. d. The most current actuarial report related to the county’s employee retirement system.

59.85(2)(d)2.e. e. The amount, if any, by which the county’s contributions to the employee retirement system for the prior year is less than the normal cost contribution for that year as specified in the initial actuarial report for the county’s employee retirement system for that year.

59.85(2)(d)2.f. f. The amount that the actuary determines is the county’s required contribution to the employee retirement system for that year.

59.85(2m) (2m) Penalty for inadequate contribution. If the county’s contributions to the employee retirement system for the prior year is less than the lower of the required contribution for that year, as described in sub. (2) (d) 2. f., or the normal cost for that year, the department of revenue shall reduce and withhold the amount of the shared revenue payments to the county under subch. I of ch. 79, in the following year, by an amount equal to the difference between the required cost contribution for that prior year and the county’s actual contribution in that prior year. The department of revenue shall deposit the amount of the reduced and withheld shared revenue payment into the county’s employee retirement system.

59.85(3) (3) Terms.

59.85(3)(a) (a) A county may borrow moneys and issue appropriation bonds in evidence of the borrowing pursuant to one or more written authorizing resolutions under sub. (4). Unless otherwise provided in an authorizing resolution, the county may issue appropriation bonds at any time, in any specific amounts, at any rates of interest, for any term, payable at any intervals, at any place, in any manner, and having any other terms or conditions that the board considers necessary or desirable. Appropriation bonds may bear interest at variable or fixed rates, bear no interest, or bear interest payable only at maturity or upon redemption prior to maturity.

59.85(3)(b) (b) The board may authorize appropriation bonds having any provisions for prepayment the board considers necessary or desirable, including the payment of any premium.

59.85(3)(c) (c) Interest shall cease to accrue on an appropriation bond on the date that the appropriation bond becomes due for payment if payment is made or duly provided for.

59.85(3)(d) (d) All moneys borrowed by a county that is evidenced by appropriation bonds issued under this section shall be lawful money of the United States, and all appropriation bonds shall be payable in such money.

59.85(3)(e) (e) All appropriation bonds owned or held by a fund of the county are outstanding in all respects and the board or other governing body controlling the fund shall have the same rights with respect to an appropriation bond as a private party, but if any sinking fund acquires appropriation bonds that gave rise to such fund, the appropriation bonds are considered paid for all purposes and no longer outstanding and shall be canceled as provided in sub. (7) (d).

59.85(3)(f) (f) A county shall not be generally liable on appropriation bonds, and appropriation bonds shall not be a debt of the county for any purpose whatsoever. Appropriation bonds, including the principal thereof and interest thereon, shall be payable only from amounts that the board may, from year to year, appropriate for the payment thereof.

59.85(4) (4) Procedures.

59.85(4)(a) (a) No appropriation bonds may be issued by a county unless the issuance is pursuant to a written authorizing resolution adopted by a majority of a quorum of the board. The resolution may be in the form of a resolution or trust indenture, and shall set forth the aggregate principal amount of appropriation bonds authorized thereby, the manner of their sale, and the form and terms thereof. The resolution or trust indenture may establish such funds and accounts, including a reserve fund, as the board determines.

59.85(4)(b) (b) Appropriation bonds may be sold at either public or private sale and may be sold at any price or percentage of par value. All appropriation bonds sold at public sale shall be noticed as provided in the authorizing resolution. Any bid received at public sale may be rejected.

59.85(5) (5) Form.

59.85(5)(a) (a) As determined by the board, appropriation bonds may be issued in book-entry form or in certificated form. Notwithstanding s. 403.104 (1), every evidence of appropriation bond is a negotiable instrument.

59.85(5)(b) (b) Every appropriation bond shall be executed in the name of and for the county by the chairperson of the board and county clerk, and shall be sealed with the seal of the county, if any. Facsimile signatures of either officer may be imprinted in lieu of manual signatures, but the signature of at least one such officer shall be manual. An appropriation bond bearing the manual or facsimile signature of a person in office at the same time the signature was signed or imprinted shall be fully valid notwithstanding that before or after the delivery of such appropriation bond the person ceased to hold such office.

59.85(5)(c) (c) Every appropriation bond shall be dated not later than the date it is issued, shall contain a reference by date to the appropriate authorizing resolution, shall state the limitation established in sub. (3) (f), and shall be in accordance with the appropriate authorizing resolution in all respects.

59.85(5)(d) (d) An appropriation bond shall be substantially in such form and contain such statements or terms as determined by the board, and may not conflict with law or with the appropriate authorizing resolution.

59.85(6) (6) Refunding bonds.

59.85(6)(a) (a)

59.85(6)(a)1. 1. A board may authorize the issuance of refunding appropriation bonds. Refunding appropriation bonds may be issued, subject to any contract rights vested in owners of the appropriation bonds being refunded, to refund all or any part of one or more issues of appropriation bonds notwithstanding that the appropriation bonds may have been issued at different times or issues of general obligation promissory notes under s. 67.12 (12) were issued to pay unfunded prior service liability with respect to an employee retirement system. The principal amount of the refunding appropriation bonds may not exceed the sum of: the principal amount of the appropriation bonds or general obligation promissory notes being refunded; applicable redemption premiums; unpaid interest on the refunded appropriation bonds or general obligation promissory notes to the date of delivery or exchange of the refunding appropriation bonds; in the event the proceeds are to be deposited in trust as provided in par. (c), interest to accrue on the appropriation bonds or general obligation promissory notes to be refunded from the date of delivery to the date of maturity or to the redemption date selected by the board, whichever is earlier; and the expenses incurred in the issuance of the refunding appropriation bonds and the payment of the refunded appropriation bonds or general obligation promissory notes.

59.85(6)(a)2. 2. A board may authorize the issuance of general obligation promissory notes under s. 67.12 (12) (a) to refund appropriation bonds, notwithstanding s. 67.01 (9) (intro.).