Chapter 62

62.62(4) (4) Procedures.

62.62(4)(a) (a) No appropriation bonds may be issued by a city unless the issuance is pursuant to a written authorizing resolution adopted by a majority of a quorum of the common council. 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 common council determines.

62.62(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.

62.62(5) (5) Form.

62.62(5)(a) (a) As determined by the common council, 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.

62.62(5)(b) (b) Every appropriation bond shall be executed in the name of and for the city by the president of the common council and city clerk, and shall be sealed with the seal of the city, 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.

62.62(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.

62.62(5)(d) (d) An appropriation bond shall be substantially in such form and contain such statements or terms as determined by the common council, and may not conflict with law or with the appropriate authorizing resolution.

62.62(6) (6) Refunding bonds.

62.62(6)(a) (a)

62.62(6)(a)1. 1. A common council 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 common council, 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.

62.62(6)(a)2. 2. A common council 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.).

62.62(6)(b) (b) If a common council determines to exchange refunding appropriation bonds, they may be exchanged privately for, and in payment and discharge of, any of the outstanding appropriation bonds being refunded. Refunding appropriation bonds may be exchanged for such principal amount of the appropriation bonds being exchanged therefor as may be determined by the common council to be necessary or desirable. The owners of the appropriation bonds being refunded who elect to exchange need not pay accrued interest on the refunding appropriation bonds if and to the extent that interest is accrued and unpaid on the appropriation bonds being refunded and to be surrendered. If any of the appropriation bonds to be refunded are to be called for redemption, the common council shall determine which redemption dates are to be used, if more than one date is applicable and shall, prior to the issuance of the refunding appropriation bonds, provide for notice of redemption to be given in the manner and at the times required by the resolution authorizing the appropriation bonds to be refunded.

62.62(6)(c) (c)

62.62(6)(c)1. 1. The principal proceeds from the sale of any refunding appropriation bonds shall be applied either to the immediate payment and retirement of the appropriation bonds or general obligation promissory notes being refunded or, if the bonds or general obligation promissory notes have not matured and are not presently redeemable, to the creation of a trust for, and shall be pledged to the payment of, the appropriation bonds or general obligation promissory notes being refunded.

62.62(6)(c)2. 2. If a trust is created, a separate deposit shall be made for each issue of appropriation bonds or general obligation promissory notes being refunded. Each deposit shall be with a bank or trust company authorized by the laws of the United States or of a state in which it is located to conduct banking or trust company business. If the total amount of any deposit, including moneys other than sale proceeds but legally available for such purpose, is less than the principal amount of the appropriation bonds or general obligation promissory notes being refunded and for the payment of which the deposit has been created and pledged, together with applicable redemption premiums and interest accrued and to accrue to maturity or to the date of redemption, then the application of the sale proceeds shall be legally sufficient only if the moneys deposited are invested in securities issued by the United States or one of its agencies, or securities fully guaranteed by the United States, and only if the principal amount of the securities at maturity and the income therefrom to maturity will be sufficient and available, without the need for any further investment or reinvestment, to pay at maturity or upon redemption the principal amount of the appropriation bonds or general obligation promissory notes being refunded together with applicable redemption premiums and interest accrued and to accrue to maturity or to the date of redemption. The income from the principal proceeds of the securities shall be applied solely to the payment of the principal of and interest and redemption premiums on the appropriation bonds or general obligation promissory notes being refunded, but provision may be made for the pledging and disposition of any surplus.

62.62(6)(c)3. 3. Nothing in this paragraph may be construed as a limitation on the duration of any deposit in trust for the retirement of appropriation bonds or general obligation promissory notes being refunded that have not matured and that are not presently redeemable. Nothing in this paragraph may be constructed to prohibit reinvestment of the income of a trust if the reinvestments will mature at such times that sufficient moneys will be available to pay interest, applicable premiums, and principal on the appropriation bonds or general obligation promissory notes being refunded.

62.62(7) (7) Fiscal regulations.

62.62(7)(a) (a) All appropriation bonds shall be registered by the city clerk or city treasurer of the city issuing the appropriation bonds, or such other officers or agents, including fiscal agents, as the common council may determine. After registration, no transfer of an appropriation bond is valid unless made by the registered owner’s duly authorized attorney, on the records of the city and similarly noted on the appropriation bond. The city may treat the registered owner as the owner of the appropriation bond for all purposes. Payments of principal and interest shall be by electronic funds transfer, check, share draft, or other draft to the registered owner at the owner’s address as it appears on the register, unless the common council has otherwise provided. Information in the register is not available for inspection and copying under s. 19.35 (1). The common council may make any other provision respecting registration as it considers necessary or desirable.

62.62(7)(b) (b) The common council may appoint one or more trustees or fiscal agents for each issue of appropriation bonds. The city treasurer may be designated as the trustee and the sole fiscal agent or as cofiscal agent for any issue of appropriation bonds. Every other fiscal agent shall be an incorporated bank or trust company authorized by the laws of the United States or of the state in which it is located to conduct banking or trust company business. There may be deposited with a trustee, in a special account, moneys to be used only for the purposes expressly provided in the resolution authorizing the issuance of appropriation bonds or an agreement between the city and the trustee. The common council may make other provisions respecting trustees and fiscal agents as the common council considers necessary or desirable and may enter into contracts with any trustee or fiscal agent containing such terms, including compensation, and conditions in regard to the trustee or fiscal agent as the common council considers necessary or desirable.

62.62(7)(c) (c) If any appropriation bond is destroyed, lost, or stolen, the city shall execute and deliver a new appropriation bond, upon filing with the common council evidence satisfactory to the common council that the appropriation bond has been destroyed, lost, or stolen, upon providing proof of ownership thereof, and upon furnishing the common council with indemnity satisfactory to it and complying with such other rules of the city and paying any expenses that the city may incur. The common council shall cancel the appropriation bond surrendered to the city.

62.62(7)(d) (d) Unless otherwise directed by the common council, every appropriation bond paid or otherwise retired shall be marked “canceled” and delivered to the city treasurer, or to such other fiscal agent as applicable with respect to the appropriation bond, who shall destroy them and deliver a certificate to that effect to the city clerk.

62.62(8) (8) Appropriation bonds as legal investments. Any of the following may legally invest any sinking funds, moneys, or other funds belonging to them or under their control in any appropriation bonds issued under this section:

62.62(8)(a) (a) The state, the investment board, public officers, municipal corporations, political subdivisions, and public bodies.

62.62(8)(b) (b) Banks and bankers, savings and loan associations, credit unions, trust companies, savings banks and institutions, investment companies, insurance companies, insurance associations, and other persons carrying on a banking or insurance business.

62.62(8)(c) (c) Personal representatives, guardians, trustees, and other fiduciaries.

62.62(9) (9) Moral obligation pledge. If the common council considers it necessary or desirable to do so, it may express in a resolution authorizing appropriation bonds its expectation and aspiration to make timely appropriations sufficient to pay the principal and interest due with respect to such appropriation bonds, to make deposits into a reserve fund created under sub. (4) (a) with respect to such appropriation bonds, to make payments under any agreement or ancillary arrangement entered into under s. 62.621 with respect to such appropriation bonds, to make deposits into any stabilization fund established or continued under s. 62.622 with respect to such appropriation bonds, or to pay related issuance or administrative expenses.

62.62(10) (10) Applicability. This section does not apply if a city does not issue appropriation bonds as authorized under sub. (2).

62.62 History History: 2009 a. 28.

62.621 62.621 Agreements and ancillary arrangements for certain notes and appropriation bonds. At the time of issuance or in anticipation of the issuance of appropriation bonds under s. 62.62, or general obligation promissory notes under s. 67.12 (12), to pay unfunded prior service liability with respect to an employee retirement system, or at any time thereafter so long as the appropriation bonds or general obligation promissory notes are outstanding, a 1st class city may enter into agreements or ancillary arrangements relating to the appropriation bonds or general obligation promissory notes, including trust indentures, liquidity facilities, remarketing or dealer agreements, letters of credit, insurance policies, guaranty agreements, reimbursement agreements, indexing agreements, and interest exchange agreements. Any payments made or amounts received with respect to any such agreement or ancillary arrangement shall be made from or deposited as provided in the agreement or ancillary arrangement.

62.621 History History: 2009 a. 28.

62.622 62.622 Employee retirement system liability financing in 1st class cities; additional powers.

62.622(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

62.622(1)(a) (a) “City” means a 1st class city.

62.622(1)(b) (b) “Common council” means the common council of a city.

62.622(1)(c) (c) “Pension funding plan” means a strategic and financial plan related to the payment of all or part of a city’s unfunded prior service liability with respect to an employee retirement system.

62.622(1)(d) (d) “Trust” means a common law trust organized under the laws of this state, by the city, as settlor, pursuant to a formal, written, declaration of trust.

62.622(2) (2) Special financing entities, funds, and accounts.

62.622(2)(a) (a) To facilitate a pension funding plan and in furtherance thereof, a common council may create one or more of the following:

62.622(2)(a)1. 1. A trust.

62.622(2)(a)2. 2. A nonstock corporation under ch. 181.

62.622(2)(a)3. 3. A limited liability company under ch. 183.

62.622(2)(a)4. 4. A special fund or account of the city.

62.622(2)(b) (b) An entity described under par. (a) has all of the powers provided to it under applicable law and the documents pursuant to which it is created and established. The powers shall be construed broadly in favor of effectuating the purposes for which the entity is created. A city may appropriate funds to such entities and to such funds and accounts, under terms and conditions established by the common council, consistent with the purposes for which they are created and established.

62.622(3) (3) Stabilization funds.

62.622(3)(a) (a) To facilitate a pension funding plan a common council may establish a stabilization fund. Any such fund may be created as a trust, a special fund or account of the city established by a separate resolution or ordinance, or a fund or account created under an authorizing resolution or trust indenture in connection with the authorization and issuance of appropriation bonds under s. 62.62 or general obligation promissory notes under s. 67.12 (12). A city may appropriate funds for deposit to a stabilization fund established under this subsection.

62.622(3)(b) (b) Moneys in a stabilization fund established under this subsection may be used, subject to annual appropriation by the common council, solely to pay principal or interest on appropriation bonds issued under s. 62.62 and general obligation promissory notes under s. 67.12 (12) issued in connection with a pension funding plan, for the redemption or repurchase of such appropriation bonds or general obligation promissory notes, to make payments under any agreement or ancillary arrangement entered into under s. 62.621 with respect to such appropriation bonds or general obligation promissory notes, or to pay annual pension costs other than normal costs. Moneys on deposit in a stabilization fund may not be subject to any claims, demands, or actions by, or transfers or assignments to, any creditor of the city, any beneficiary of the city’s employee retirement system, or any other person, on terms other than as may be established in the resolution or ordinance creating the stabilization fund. Moneys on deposit in a stabilization fund established under this subsection may be invested and reinvested in the manner directed by the common council or pursuant to delegation by the common council as provided under s. 66.0603 (5).

62.622 History History: 2009 a. 28.

62.623 62.623 Payment of contributions in an employee retirement system of a 1st class city.

62.623(1) (1) Beginning on July 1, 2011, in any employee retirement system of a 1st class city, except as otherwise provided in a collective bargaining agreement entered into under subch. IV of ch. 111 and except as provided in subs. (2) and (3) employees shall pay all employee required contributions for funding benefits under the retirement system. The employer may not pay on behalf of an employee any of the employee’s share of the required contributions.

62.623(2) (2) 

62.623(2)(a) (a) An employer shall pay, on behalf of a nonrepresented law enforcement or fire fighting managerial employee, who was initially employed by the employer before July 1, 2011, the same contributions required by sub. (1) that are paid by the employer for represented law enforcement or fire fighting personnel who were initially employed by the employer before July 1, 2011.

62.623(2)(b) (b) An employer shall pay, on behalf of a represented law enforcement or fire fighting employee, who was initially employed by the employer before July 1, 2011, and who on or after July 1, 2011, became employed in a nonrepresented law enforcement or fire fighting managerial position with the employer, or a successor employer in the event of a combined department that is created on or after July 1, 2011, the same contributions required by sub. (1) that are paid by the employer for represented law enforcement or fire fighting personnel who were initially employed by the employer before July 1, 2011.

62.623(3) (3) In any employee retirement system of a 1st class city that is located in a county with a population of more than 750,000 and that has elected to become a participating employer in the Wisconsin Retirement System under s. 40.21 (1), except as otherwise provided in sub. (2), irrespective of the funding status of the retirement system, the employer shall pay the remaining balance of actuarially determined normal cost contributions each year that is not covered by the employee contributions.

62.623 History History: 2011 a. 10, 32; 2023 a. 12.

62.623 Annotation This section concerns a matter of primarily statewide concern and, accordingly, survives the plaintiffs’ home rule challenge under article XI, section 3 (1), of the Wisconsin Constitution. Madison Teachers, Inc. v. Walker, 2014 WI 99, 358 Wis. 2d 1, 851 N.W.2d 337, 12-2067.

62.623 Annotation This section does not violate the contract clause, article I, section 12, of the Wisconsin Constitution. Nothing in 2011 Wis. Act 10 purports to reduce, impair, or affect in any way benefits that have already accrued to plan members. This section modifies only the method by which the Milwaukee Employes’ Retirement System is funded; the pension, disability, and death benefits that accrue to plan members pursuant to the terms and conditions in the Milwaukee retirement system ordinance remain unaffected. Madison Teachers, Inc. v. Walker, 2014 WI 99, 358 Wis. 2d 1, 851 N.W.2d 337, 12-2067.

62.624 62.624 Employee retirement system of a 1st class city; duty disability benefits for a mental injury.

62.624(1) (1) If an employee retirement system of a 1st class city offers a duty disability benefit, the employee retirement system may only provide the duty disability benefit for a mental injury if all of the following apply:

62.624(1)(a) (a) The mental injury resulted from a situation of greater dimensions than the day-to-day mental stresses and tensions and post-traumatic stress that all similarly situated employees must experience as part of the employment.

62.624(1)(b) (b) The employer certifies that the mental injury is a duty-related injury.

62.624(2) (2) If an employee retirement system of a 1st class city determines that an applicant is not eligible for duty disability benefits for a mental injury, the applicant may appeal the employee retirement system’s determination to the department of workforce development. In hearing an appeal under this subsection, the department of workforce development shall follow the procedures under ss. 102.16 to 102.26.

62.624(3) (3) This section applies to participants in an employee retirement system of a 1st class city who first apply for duty disability benefits for a mental injury on or after July 14, 2015.

62.624 History History: 2015 a. 55.

62.625 62.625 Amortization period for employer contributions. Notwithstanding any provision of law or actuarial rule, beginning in the calendar quarter of the year that a tax is first imposed under s. 77.701 (1), in any retirement system of a 1st class city, the required annual employer contribution shall be calculated using a 30-year amortization period and an annual investment return assumption that is the same as or less than the annual investment return assumption used by the Wisconsin Retirement System for participating employees, as defined in s. 40.02 (46). Future unfunded actuarial accrued liability due to factors such as market returns and standard actuarial practices may be amortized on the basis of standard actuarial practices. The amortization period and investment return assumptions in this section shall supersede any amortization period and investment return assumption adopted by the actuary or retirement board of the retirement system of the city. No trustee or administrator of a retirement system of a 1st class city shall be subject to liability for complying with this section.

62.625 History History: 2023 a. 12.

62.63 62.63 Benefit funds for officers and employees of 1st class cities.

62.63(1) (1) Establishment of funds. By a majority vote of the members-elect, the common council of a 1st class city may create, establish, maintain and administer annuity and benefit funds for city officers and employees, including officers and employees of boards, agencies, departments and divisions of the city government and of a housing authority established under s. 66.1201.

62.63(2) (2) Retirement board. By a majority vote of its members, the common council of a 1st class city may create a retirement board to administer an annuity and benefit fund under this section. The retirement board may make rules and regulations under which all participants contribute to and receive benefits from the fund. Members of the board shall serve without compensation. Three members of the board shall be city employees elected by the members of the retirement system and shall serve 4-year terms and 5 members shall be appointed under s. 62.51 and shall serve 3-year terms. The common council may provide for contribution by the city to the annuity and benefit fund. The executive director of the retirement board shall be appointed under s. 62.51.

62.63(3) (3) Investment of retirement funds. The board of a retirement system of a 1st class city, whose funds are independent of control by the investment board, may invest funds from the system, in excess of the amount of cash required for current operations, in the same manner as is authorized for investments under s. 881.01.

62.63(4) (4) Exemption of funds and benefits from taxation, execution and assignment. Except as provided in s. 49.852 and subject to s. 767.75, all moneys and assets of a retirement system of a 1st class city and all benefits and allowances, both before and after payment to any beneficiary, granted under the retirement system are exempt from any state, county or municipal tax or from attachment or garnishment process. The benefits and allowances may not be seized, taken, detained or levied upon by virtue of any executions, or any process or proceeding issued out of or by any court of this state, for the payment and ratification in whole or in part of any debt, claim, damage, demand or judgment against any member of or beneficiary under the retirement system. No member of or beneficiary under the retirement system may assign any benefit or allowance either by way of mortgage or otherwise. The prohibition against assigning a benefit or allowance does not apply to assignments made for the payment of insurance premiums. The exemption from taxation under this section does not apply with respect to any tax on income.

62.63(5) (5) Treatment of abandoned retirement accounts. Funds in employee retirement accounts of a retirement system of a 1st class city, which are presumed abandoned under subch. II of ch. 177, are not subject to the custody of the state as unclaimed property under ch. 177, but shall be retained by the retirement system and used to reduce employer funding obligations to the retirement system. The board of a retirement system of a 1st class city shall devise rules and regulations for determining the conditions under which employee retirement accounts are presumed abandoned and for determining the manner in which funds in the abandoned employee retirement accounts may be used to reduce employer funding obligations to the retirement system.

62.63 History History: 1999 a. 150 ss. 15, 569, 571, 574, 575; 2005 a. 189; 2005 a. 443 s. 265; 2009 a. 191; 2011 a. 260 s. 81; 2021 a. 87.

62.63 Annotation Sub. (4) bars a court from directly dividing a pension. However, a pension is a marital asset accumulated during the course of the marriage. The court has discretionary authority to order the employee spouse to make a specific payout election or enter other orders in the event a selection is made that is counter to the non-employee spouse’s interests. Sub. (4) does not usurp the court’s ability to effectuate an equitable division of the parties’ assets, including a pension. Waln v. Waln, 2005 WI App 54, 280 Wis. 2d 253, 694 N.W.2d 452, 04-1271.

62.65 62.65 Death benefit payments to foreign beneficiaries. The common council of a 1st class city may provide that under the city’s retirement system no beneficiary may be designated for the payment of any retirement allowance, pension or proceeds of a member of the retirement system if the beneficiary is not a resident of either the United States or Canada. If a beneficiary is designated who is neither a resident of the United States nor Canada, any contributions or retirement allowance which would have been paid to the beneficiary had the beneficiary been a resident of either the United States or Canada is payable to the estate of the deceased member of the retirement system. The common council may also provide that if a death benefit would be payable because of the death of a member of the retirement system and the designated beneficiary of the death benefit is not a resident of either the United States or Canada, the death benefit which would have been paid had the designated beneficiary been a resident of either the United States or Canada is payable to the estate of the deceased member.

62.65 History History: 1991 a. 316; 1999 a. 150 s. 573; Stats. 1999 s. 62.65.

62.67 62.67 Uninsured motorist coverage; 1st class cities. A 1st class city shall provide uninsured motorist motor vehicle liability insurance coverage for motor vehicles owned by the city and operated by city employees in the course of employment. The coverage required by this section shall have at least the limits prescribed for uninsured motorist coverage under s. 632.32 (4) (a) 1.

62.67 History History: 1983 a. 537; Stats. 1983 s. 66.187; 1983 a. 538 s. 97; Stats. 1983 s. 66.189; 1999 a. 150 s. 309; Stats. 1999 s. 62.67; 2009 a. 28.

62.67 Annotation This section requires the city to provide uninsured motorist coverage for its vehicles regardless of whether it is able to obtain coverage from an insurance carrier. American Family Mutual Insurance Co. v. City of Milwaukee, 148 Wis. 2d 280, 435 N.W.2d 280 (Ct. App. 1988).

62.67 Annotation This section puts the city in the position of an insurer subject to the subrogation rights of its officer’s personal insurers. Millers National Insurance Co. v. City of Milwaukee, 184 Wis. 2d 155, 516 N.W.2d 376 (1994).

62.67 Annotation This section requires the city to be the primary provider of uninsured motorist coverage. Norman v. City of Milwaukee, 198 Wis. 2d 98, 542 N.W.2d 473 (Ct. App. 1995), 95-0009.

62.67 Annotation A self-insured city is not an insurer writing policies subject to s. 632.32 (4m) (a) 1. and is not subject to the requirement to provide underinsured motorist coverage. Van Erden v. Sobczak, 2004 WI App 40, 271 Wis. 2d 163, 677 N.W.2d 718, 02-1595.

62.69 62.69 First class city utilities.

62.69(1) (1) Application. This section applies to 1st class cities.

62.69(2) (2) Water systems.

62.69(2)(a) (a) In this subsection, “commissioner of public works” includes any board of public works, or commissioner of public works, or other officer of the city having control of the city’s public works.

62.69(2)(b) (b) In this subsection, all acts authorized to be done by the commissioner of public works, except enforcement of regulations approved by the common council, shall be approved by the common council before the acts may take effect.

62.69(2)(c) (c) Water rates shall be collected in the manner and by whom the common council determines, and shall be accounted for and paid to the other officials in the manner and at the times that the council prescribes. Persons collecting water rates shall give a bond to cover all the duties in an amount prescribed by the council. Final accounting shall be made to the comptroller and final disposition of money shall be made to the city treasurer.

62.69(2)(d) (d) When the city owns its water system, the commissioner of public works may make and enforce bylaws, rules and regulations in relation to the water system, and, before the actual introduction of water, the commissioner shall make bylaws, rules and regulations, fixing uniform water rates to be paid for the use of water furnished by the water system, and fixing the manner of distributing and supplying water for use or consumption, and for withholding or turning off water for cause. The commissioner may alter, modify or repeal the bylaws, rules and regulations.