Chapter 66

66.0219(4) (4) Referendum election; when ordered and held.

66.0219(4)(a) (a) If the court, after the hearing, is satisfied that the description of the territory or any survey is accurate and that the provisions of this section have been complied with, it shall make an order so declaring and shall direct a referendum election within the territory described in the order, on the question of whether the area should be annexed. Such order shall be filed as provided in s. 8.37. The order shall direct 3 electors named in the order residing in the town in which the territory proposed to be annexed lies, to perform the duties of inspectors of election.

66.0219(4)(b) (b) The referendum election shall be held not less than 70 days nor more than 100 days after the filing of the order as provided in s. 8.37, in the territory proposed for annexation, by the electors of that territory as provided in s. 66.0217 (7), so far as applicable. The ballots shall contain the words “For Annexation” and “Against Annexation”. The certification of the election inspectors shall be filed with the clerk of the court, and the clerk of any municipality involved, but need not be filed or recorded with the register of deeds.

66.0219(4)(c) (c) All costs of the referendum election shall be borne by the petitioning city or village.

66.0219(5) (5) Determination by vote.

66.0219(5)(a) (a) If a majority of the votes cast at the referendum election is against annexation, no other proceeding under this section affecting the same territory or part of the same territory may be commenced by the same municipality until 6 months after the date of the referendum election.

66.0219(5)(b) (b) If a majority of the votes cast at the referendum election is for annexation, the territory shall be annexed to the petitioning city or village upon compliance with s. 66.0217 (9).

66.0219(6) (6) Temporary zoning of area proposed to be annexed. An interim zoning ordinance to become effective only upon approval of the annexation at the referendum election may be enacted by the governing body of the city or village. The ordinance may temporarily designate the classification of the annexed area for zoning purposes until the zoning ordinance is amended as prescribed in s. 62.23 (7) (d). The proposed interim zoning ordinance shall be referred to and recommended by the plan commission prior to introduction. Authority to make a temporary classification is not effective when the county zoning ordinance prevails during litigation as provided in s. 59.69 (7).

66.0219(7) (7) Appeal. An appeal from the order of the circuit court is limited to contested issues determined by the circuit court. An appeal shall not stay the conduct of the referendum election, if one is ordered, but the statement of the election results and the copies of the certificate and plat may not be filed with the secretary of administration until the appeal has been determined.

66.0219(8) (8) Law applicable. Sections 66.0203 (8) (c) and 66.0217 (11) apply to annexations under this section.

66.0219(9) (9) Territory excepted. This section does not apply to any territory located in an area for which a certificate of incorporation was issued before February 24, 1959, by the secretary of state, even if the incorporation of the territory is later held to be invalid by a court.

66.0219(10) (10) Limitations on annexation authority.

66.0219(10)(a) (a)

66.0219(10)(a)1. 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., no territory may be annexed by a city or village under this section unless the city or village agrees to pay annually to the town, for 5 years, an amount equal to the amount of property taxes that the town levied on the annexed territory, as shown by the tax roll under s. 70.65, in the year in which the annexation is final.

66.0219(10)(a)2. 2. No payments under subd. 1. must be made if the city or village, and the town, enter into a boundary agreement under s. 66.0225, 66.0301, or 66.0307.

66.0219(10)(b) (b) No territory may be annexed by a city or village under this section if no part of the city or village is located in the same county as the territory that is subject to the proposed annexation unless all of the following occur:

66.0219(10)(b)1. 1. The town board adopts a resolution approving the proposed annexation.

66.0219(10)(b)2. 2. The county board of the county in which the territory is located adopts a resolution approving the proposed annexation.

66.0219 History History: 1979 c. 89; 1987 a. 391; 1991 a. 269; 1993 a. 301, 329; 1995 a. 201; 1999 a. 150 s. 68; Stats. 1999 s. 66.0219; 1999 a. 182 s. 200; 2001 a. 30; 2003 a. 171, 317; 2007 a. 43; 2011 a. 75; 2013 a. 80; 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 365 s. 111.

66.0219 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See s. 281.43 (1m) for provisions authorizing the use of this section when the Department of Natural Resources orders sewer service to areas outside municipal limits.

66.0219 Annotation A trial court finding that no facts evinced a need for the city to acquire the proposed territory, thereby violating the rule of reason, would not be disturbed when it could be reasonably concluded from the adjudicative facts that: 1) the irregular shape and boundaries of the territory were designed arbitrarily and capriciously solely to assure the success of the annexation and to overcome the opposition of a majority of the electors residing in the towns; 2) a reasonable need for the annexation based on the claimed growth of the city and overflow of population into adjoining areas was not established; and 3) aside from a nursing home some two miles distant from the city boundary, there was no showing that the proposed annexation area was in need of the city’s services which were adequately supplied by the towns. City of Beloit v. Town of Beloit, 47 Wis. 2d 377, 177 N.W.2d 361 (1970).

66.0219 Annotation The term “disbursements” in sub. (3) does not include attorney fees. City of Beloit v. Town of Beloit, 47 Wis. 2d 377, 177 N.W.2d 361 (1970).

66.0219 Annotation Under the rule of prior precedence, in case of conflict between competing annexations, or between an annexation and a proceeding for the incorporation of a city or village, the proceeding first instituted has precedence, and the later one must yield. Annexation proceedings did not lose priority status when the ordinances were deemed invalid and dismissed by the circuit court but subsequently vindicated on appeal. Town of Campbell v. City of La Crosse, 2003 WI App 139, 266 Wis. 2d 107, 667 N.W.2d 356, 02-1150.

66.0221 66.0221 Annexation of and creation of town islands.

66.0221(1) (1) Upon its own motion and subject to sub. (3) and ss. 66.0301 (6) (d) and 66.0307 (7), a city or village, by a two-thirds vote of the entire membership of its governing body, may enact an ordinance annexing territory which comprises a portion of a town or towns and which was completely surrounded by territory of the city or village on December 2, 1973. The ordinance shall include all surrounded town areas except those that are exempt by mutual agreement of all of the governing bodies involved. The annexation ordinance shall contain a legal description of the territory and the name of the town or towns from which the territory is detached. Upon enactment of the ordinance, the city or village clerk immediately shall file 6 certified copies of the ordinance with the secretary of administration, together with 6 copies of a scale map. The city or village shall also file with the county clerk or board of election commissioners the report required by s. 5.15 (4) (b). The secretary of administration shall forward 2 copies of the ordinance and scale map to the department of transportation, one copy to the department of natural resources, one copy to the department of revenue and one copy to the department of administration. This subsection does not apply if the town island was created only by the annexation of a railroad right-of-way or drainage ditch. This subsection does not apply to land owned by a town government which has existing town government buildings located on the land. No town island may be annexed under this subsection if the island consists of over 65 acres or contains over 100 residents. Section 66.0217 (11) applies to annexations under this subsection. Except as provided in sub. (2), after December 2, 1973, no city or village may, by annexation, create a town area which is completely surrounded by the city or village.

66.0221(2) (2) A city or village may, by annexation, create a town area that is completely surrounded by the city or village if a cooperative plan for boundary change under s. 66.0301 (6) or 66.0307, to which the town and the annexing city or village are parties, applies to the territory that is annexed.

66.0221(3) (3) 

66.0221(3)(a) (a)

66.0221(3)(a)1. 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., no territory may be annexed by a city or village under this section unless the city or village agrees to pay annually to the town, for 5 years, an amount equal to the amount of property taxes that the town levied on the annexed territory, as shown by the tax roll under s. 70.65, in the year in which the annexation is final.

66.0221(3)(a)2. 2. No payments under subd. 1. must be made if the city or village, and the town, enter into a boundary agreement under s. 66.0225, 66.0301, or 66.0307.

66.0221(3)(b) (b) No territory may be annexed by a city or village under this section if no part of the city or village is located in the same county as the territory that is subject to the proposed annexation unless all of the following occur:

66.0221(3)(b)1. 1. The town board adopts a resolution approving the proposed annexation.

66.0221(3)(b)2. 2. The county board of the county in which the territory is located adopts a resolution approving the proposed annexation.

66.0221 History History: 1999 a. 150 s. 62; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 317; 2007 a. 43; 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 360.

66.0221 Annotation A town from which two town islands were detached by annexation had no standing to challenge the constitutionality of the statute. Town of Germantown v. Village of Germantown, 70 Wis. 2d 704, 235 N.W.2d 486 (1975).

66.0221 Annotation This is a clear and unambiguous provision allowing, with certain exceptions, for the annexation by a city or village in a single ordinance all town islands meeting the statutorily defined criteria. Annexation by a city of seven separate town islands via seven separate municipal ordinances was impermissible under s. 66.021 (15) [now this section] since the power to annex must be exercised by a municipality in strict conformity with the statute conferring it. Town of Blooming Grove v. City of Madison, 70 Wis. 2d 770, 235 N.W.2d 493 (1975).

66.0221 Annotation The statute does not prohibit a “functional town island.” Wagner Mobil, Inc. v. City of Madison, 190 Wis. 2d 585, 527 N.W.2d 301 (1995).

66.0223 66.0223 Annexation of territory owned by a city or village.

66.0223(1) (1) In addition to other methods provided by law and subject to sub. (2) and ss. 66.0301 (6) (d) and 66.0307 (7), territory owned by and lying near but not necessarily contiguous to a village or city may be annexed to a village or city by ordinance enacted by the board of trustees of the village or the common council of the city, provided that in the case of noncontiguous territory the use of the territory by the city or village is not contrary to any town or county zoning regulation. The ordinance shall contain the exact description of the territory annexed and the names of the towns from which detached, and attaches the territory to the village or city upon the filing of 7 certified copies of the ordinance with the secretary of administration, together with 7 copies of a plat showing the boundaries of the territory attached. The city or village shall also file with the county clerk or board of election commissioners the report required by s. 5.15 (4) (b). Two copies of the ordinance and plat shall be forwarded by the secretary of administration to the department of transportation, one copy to the department of administration, one copy to the department of natural resources, one copy to the department of revenue and one copy to the department of public instruction. Within 10 days of filing the certified copies, a copy of the ordinance and plat shall be mailed or delivered to the clerk of the county in which the annexed territory is located. Sections 66.0203 (8) (c) and 66.0217 (11) apply to annexations under this section.

66.0223(2) (2) No territory may be annexed by a city or village under this section if no part of the city or village is located in the same county as the territory that is subject to the proposed annexation unless all of the following occur:

66.0223(2)(a) (a) The town board adopts a resolution approving the proposed annexation.

66.0223(2)(b) (b) The county board of the county in which the territory is located adopts a resolution approving the proposed annexation.

66.0223(2)(c) (c) The city or village, and the town, enter into a boundary agreement under s. 66.0225, 66.0301, or 66.0307.

66.0223 History History: 1973 c. 90; 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (8) (c); 1991 a. 269; 1993 a. 329; 1995 a. 27 s. 9145 (1); 1995 a. 201; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 150 s. 69; Stats. 1999 s. 66.0223; 2003 a. 171, 317, 327; 2007 a. 43; 2013 a. 80; 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 360.

66.0223 Annotation A challenge to annexation under this section is not subject to the time limit under s. 66.021 (10) [now s. 66.0217 (11)]. Kaiser v. City of Mauston, 99 Wis. 2d 345, 299 N.W.2d 259 (Ct. App. 1980).

66.0225 66.0225 Stipulated boundary agreements in contested boundary actions.

66.0225(1) (1) Definitions. In this section, “municipality” means a city, village, or town.

66.0225(2) (2) Contested annexations. Any 2 municipalities whose boundaries are immediately adjacent at any point and who are parties to an action, proceeding, or appeal in court for the purpose of testing the validity of an annexation may enter into a written stipulation, compromising and settling the litigation and determining the portion of the common boundary line between the municipalities that is the subject of the annexation. The court having jurisdiction of the litigation, whether the circuit court, the court of appeals, or the supreme court, may enter a final judgment incorporating the provisions of the stipulation and fixing the common boundary line between the municipalities involved. A stipulation changing boundaries of municipalities shall be approved by the governing body of each municipality and s. 66.0217 (9) and (11) shall apply. A change of municipal boundaries under this section is subject to a referendum of the electors residing within the territory whose jurisdiction is subject to change under the stipulation, if within 30 days after the publication of the stipulation to change boundaries in a newspaper of general circulation in that territory, a petition for a referendum conforming to the requirements of s. 8.40 signed by at least 20 percent of the electors residing within that territory is filed with the clerk of the municipality from which the greater area is proposed to be removed and is filed as provided in s. 8.37. The referendum shall be conducted as are annexation referenda. If the referendum election fails, all proceedings under this section are void.

66.0225(3) (3) Contested boundary actions.

66.0225(3)(a) (a) In this subsection, “boundary action” means an action, proceeding, or appeal in court contesting the validity of an annexation, consolidation, detachment, or incorporation.

66.0225(3)(b) (b) If 2 municipalities whose boundaries are immediately adjacent at any point are parties to a boundary action, the municipalities may enter into an agreement under s. 66.0301 (6) or s. 66.0307 as part of a stipulation to settle the boundary action. The court may approve and make part of the final judgment a stipulation that includes an agreement under s. 66.0301 (6) or s. 66.0307.

66.0225(4) (4) Authority for certain stipulations. A stipulation that is court-approved under this section before January 19, 2008, that affects the location of a boundary between municipalities, is not invalid as lacking authority to affect the location of the boundary.

66.0225 History History: 1977 c. 187; 1989 a. 192; 1991 a. 269; 1999 a. 150 s. 71; Stats. 1999 s. 66.0225; 1999 a. 182 s. 201; 1999 a. 186; 2001 a. 30; 2007 a. 43.

66.0227 66.0227 Detachment of territory. Subject to ss. 66.0301 (6) (d) and 66.0307 (7), territory may be detached from a city or village and attached to a city, village or town to which it is contiguous as follows:

66.0227(1) (1) A petition signed by a majority of the owners of three-fourths of the taxable land in area within the territory to be detached or, if there is no taxable land in the territory, by all owners of land in the territory, shall be filed with the clerk of the city or village from which detachment is sought, within 120 days after the date of publication of a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, of intention to circulate a petition of detachment.

66.0227(2) (2) An ordinance detaching the territory may be enacted within 60 days after the filing of the petition, by a vote of three-fourths of all the members of the governing body of the detaching city or village and its terms accepted within 60 days after enactment, by an ordinance enacted by a vote of three-fourths of all the members of the governing body of the city, village or town to which the territory is to be attached. The failure of a governing body to adopt the ordinance under this subsection is a rejection of the petition and all proceedings are void.

66.0227(3) (3) The governing body of a city, village or town involved may, or if a petition conforming to the requirements of s. 8.40 signed by a number of qualified electors equal to at least 5 percent of the votes cast for governor in the city, village or town at the last gubernatorial election, demanding a referendum, is presented to it within 30 days after the passage of either of the ordinances under sub. (2) shall, submit the question to the electors of the city, village or town whose electors petitioned for detachment, at a referendum election called for that purpose not less than 70 days nor more than 100 days after the filing of the petition, or after the enactment of either ordinance. The petition shall be filed as provided in s. 8.37. If a number of electors cannot be determined on the basis of reported election statistics, the number shall be determined in accordance with s. 60.74 (6). The governing body of the municipality shall appoint 3 election inspectors who are resident electors to supervise the referendum. The ballots shall contain the words “For Detachment” and “Against Detachment”. The inspectors shall certify the results of the election by their attached affidavits and file a copy with the clerk of each town, village or city involved, and none of the ordinances may take effect nor be in force unless a majority of the electors approve the question. The referendum election shall be conducted in accordance with chs. 6 and 7 to the extent applicable.

66.0227(4) (4) If an area that has been subject to a city or village zoning ordinance is detached from one municipality and attached to another under this section, the zoning ordinance and any regulations, approvals, and conditions imposed under the ordinance continue in effect until the ordinance or the particular regulation, approval, or condition is specifically changed by official action of the governing body of the municipality. If the detachment or attachment is contested in the courts, the zoning ordinance and any regulations, approvals, and conditions imposed under the ordinance of the detaching municipality continue in effect, and the detaching city or village retains jurisdiction over the zoning in the area affected until final disposition of the court action. This subsection does not expand or modify the authority of a municipality to change a zoning ordinance, any regulation, approval, or condition imposed under a zoning ordinance, or any nonconforming use.

66.0227(5) (5) The ordinance, certificate and plat shall be filed and recorded in the same manner as annexations under s. 66.0217 (9) (a). The requirements for the secretary of administration are the same as in s. 66.0217 (9) (b).

66.0227(6) (6) Because the creation of congressional, legislative, supervisory and aldermanic districts of equal population is a matter of statewide concern, any detachment action that affects a tract of land that is the subject of an ordinance enacted or resolution adopted by a city during the period from January 1, 1990, to April 1, 1991, or any later date, expressing an intent to not exercise the city’s authority to annex territory before April 1, 1991, or the specified later date, taken by a municipality during the period beginning on April 1 of the year commencing after each federal decennial census of population and ending on June 30 of the year commencing after that census, is effective on July 1 of the year commencing after that census or at a later date as specified in the detachment ordinance. This subsection first applies to detachments effective after March 31, 1991.

66.0227 History History: 1973 c. 90; 1983 a. 29; 1987 a. 391; 1989 a. 192; 1991 a. 5, 269; 1993 a. 301; 1999 a. 150 s. 66; Stats. 1999 s. 66.0227; 1999 a. 182 s. 198; 2001 a. 30; 2007 a. 43; 2011 a. 75; 2015 a. 55; 2023 a. 264.

66.0227 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See s. 62.075 for special provisions for detachment of farm lands from cities.

66.0229 66.0229 Consolidation.

66.0229(1) (1) General procedures. Subject to ss. 66.0301 (6) (d) and 66.0307 (7), a town, village or city may be consolidated with a contiguous town, village or city, by ordinance, passed by a two-thirds vote of all the members of each board or council, fixing the terms of the consolidation and ratified by the electors at a referendum held in each municipality. The ballots shall bear the words, “for consolidation”, and “against consolidation”, and if a majority of the votes cast in each municipality are for consolidation, the ordinances shall take effect and have the force of a contract. The ordinance and the result of the referendum shall be certified as provided in s. 66.0211 (5); if a town the certification shall be preserved as provided in ss. 66.0211 (5) and 66.0235, respectively. Consolidation does not affect the preexisting rights or liabilities of any municipality and actions on those rights or liabilities may be commenced or completed as if there were no consolidation. A consolidation ordinance proposing the consolidation of a town and a city or village shall, within 10 days after its adoption and prior to its submission to the voters for ratification at a referendum, be submitted to the circuit court and the department of administration for a determination of whether the proposed consolidation is in the public interest. The circuit court shall determine whether the proposed ordinance meets the formal requirements of this section and shall then refer the matter to the department of administration, which shall find as prescribed in s. 66.0203 whether the proposed consolidation is in the public interest in accordance with the standards in s. 66.0207. The department’s findings have the same status as incorporation findings under ss. 66.0203 to 66.0213.

66.0229(2) (2) Town of Rochester in Racine county and the village of Rochester may consolidate. The town of Rochester, in Racine County, and the village of Rochester may consolidate if all of the procedures contained sub. (1) are fulfilled, except that the consolidation ordinance need not be submitted to the circuit court for a determination and the department of administration for a public interest finding, as otherwise required, and the consolidation may be completed without any circuit court determination or department of administration findings.

66.0229 History History: 1977 c. 29; 1979 c. 361 s. 112; 1983 a. 532 s. 36; 1991 a. 39, 269; 1995 a. 27, ss. 3307 and 9116 (5); 1995 a. 216; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 150 s. 42; Stats. 1999 s. 66.0229; 2003 a. 93; 2007 a. 20, 43.

66.0230 66.0230 Town consolidation with a city or village.

66.0230(1) (1) 

66.0230(1)(a) (a) In addition to the method described in s. 66.0229 (1) and subject to subs. (2), (3), and (4) and to ss. 66.0301 (6) (d) and 66.0307 (7), all or part of a town may consolidate with a contiguous city or village by ordinance passed by a two-thirds vote of all of the members of each board or council and ratified by the electors at a referendum held in each municipality.

66.0230(1)(b) (b) With regard to the referendum, the ballots shall bear the words “for consolidation,” and “against consolidation,” and if a majority of the votes cast in each municipality are for consolidation the ordinances shall take effect and have the force of a contract. The ordinance and the result of the referendum shall be certified as provided in s. 66.0211 (5).

66.0230(1)(c) (c) Consolidation does not affect the preexisting rights or liabilities of any municipality and actions on those rights or liabilities may be commenced or completed as if there were no consolidation.

66.0230(2) (2) All or part of a town may consolidate with a city or village under sub. (1) if all of the following apply:

66.0230(2)(a) (a) The town, and the city or village, adopt identical resolutions that describe the level of services that residents of the proposed city or village will receive, or have access to, in at least all of the following areas:

66.0230(2)(a)1. 1. Public parks services.

66.0230(2)(a)2. 2. Public health services.

66.0230(2)(a)3. 3. Animal control services.

66.0230(2)(a)4. 4. Library services.

66.0230(2)(a)5. 5. Fire and emergency rescue services.

66.0230(2)(a)6. 6. Law enforcement services.

66.0230(2)(b) (b) The town, and the city or village, adopt identical resolutions that relate to the ownership or leasing of government buildings.

66.0230(2)(c) (c) The city or village with which the town wishes to consolidate enters into a separate boundary agreement, subject to approval of the town board of the town to be consolidated, with every city, village, and town that borders the proposed consolidated city or village. Each boundary agreement shall determine the boundaries between the parties to the agreement. The boundary agreement shall state the term of the agreement and shall contain the procedures under which the agreement may be amended during its term. A boundary agreement entered into under this paragraph is a binding contract upon the parties.

66.0230(2)(d) (d) The consolidating town, and city or village, agree to adopt a comprehensive plan under s. 66.1001 for the consolidated city or village, and the comprehensive plan takes effect on the effective date of the consolidation.

66.0230(2)(e) (e) At least some part of the consolidated city or village receives sewage disposal services.

66.0230(3) (3) If less than an entire town consolidates with a city or village under sub. (1), the consolidation may not take effect unless the town enters into an agreement with a city, village, or town that has a common boundary with the remnant of the town that is not consolidated under which the town remnant becomes part of the city, village, or town with the common boundary. If a town remnant becomes part of a city or village, an agreement described under this subsection shall be included in each boundary agreement under sub. (2) (c) that is entered into by a city, village, or town that borders the remnant. An agreement entered into under this subsection is a binding contract upon the parties.

66.0230(4) (4) In this section, a municipality that borders or has a common boundary with another municipality includes municipalities that intersect at only one point.

66.0230 History History: 2003 a. 93; 2007 a. 20, 43; 2009 a. 180.

66.0231 66.0231 Notice of certain litigation affecting municipal status or boundaries. If a proceeding under ss. 61.187, 61.189, 61.74, 62.075, 66.0201 to 66.0213, 66.0215, 66.02162, 66.0217, 66.0221, 66.0223, 66.0227, 66.0301 (6), or 66.0307 or other sections relating to an incorporation, annexation, consolidation, dissolution or detachment of territory of a city or village is contested by instigation of legal proceedings, the clerk of the city or village involved in the proceedings shall file with the secretary of administration 4 copies of a notice of the commencement of the action. The clerk shall file with the secretary of administration 4 copies of any judgments rendered or appeals taken in such cases. The notices or copies of judgments that are required under this section may also be filed by an officer or attorney of any party of interest. If any judgment has the effect of changing the municipal boundaries, the city or village clerk shall also file with the county clerk or board of election commissioners the report required by s. 5.15 (4) (b). The secretary of administration shall forward to the department of transportation 2 copies and to the department of revenue and the department of administration one copy each of any notice of action or judgment filed with the secretary of administration under this section.

66.0231 History History: 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (8) (c); 1977 c. 273; 1979 c. 355; 1983 a. 532 s. 36; 1991 a. 269; 1995 a. 35; 1999 a. 150 s. 70; Stats. 1999 s. 66.0231; 2005 a. 25; 2007 a. 43; 2015 a. 55, 196; 2017 a. 360.

66.0233 66.0233 Town participation in actions to test alterations of town boundaries. In a proceeding in which territory may be attached to or detached from a town, the town is an interested party, and the town board may institute, maintain or defend an action brought to test the validity of the proceedings, and may intervene or be impleaded in the action.