Chapter 65

65.07(1)(L) (L) A sufficient common council contingent fund.

65.07(1)(m) (m) A debt service fund for school building purposes as provided in s. 120.10 (10).

65.07(1)(o) (o) A tax stabilization fund.

65.07(1)(p) (p) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 65.06 (14) and (15), the common council may by resolution authorize the carrying over of unexpended funds which have been appropriated to a department for additional periods not to exceed 3 years from the year in which they were appropriated.

65.07(1)(q) (q) An operating fund which may be carried over by the common council from year to year for the purpose of accumulating sums necessary to purchase buildings, machinery, equipment, and appurtenances thereto required for municipal purposes.

65.07(1)(r) (r)

65.07(1)(r)1. 1. A tax equalization fund under the control of the common council. A levy for the purposes of this fund may be made against all taxable property in the city whenever as the result of any consolidation of a municipality, as defined in s. 345.05, with the city there is included within the city any area subject to taxes levied by any municipality except a county or metropolitan sewerage district at a rate different than that which is applicable for the same purposes in the city other than the consolidated portion thereof. To create such fund the common council may levy a tax in the consolidated area equivalent to the proceeds of a city tax for the same purpose if levied in such area and in addition may levy in such city, including the consolidated area, a tax calculated to produce a sum sufficient to meet the requirements of such other municipality properly certified to such city so as to result in taxation at a uniform rate for such purposes in the city including the consolidated area. Appropriations may be made from such fund to pay certifications of school districts lying wholly or partially in the area consolidated.

65.07(1)(r)2. 2. This paragraph shall apply to any tax levy in a consolidated area on January 1, 1958, and thereafter.

65.07(1)(s) (s) A liability reserve fund for the purpose of paying liability claims against the city or premiums on insurance to pay such claims. The governing body may allow amounts appropriated to the fund to accumulate from year to year. The annual taxes levied for this purpose may not exceed the level necessary to collect the amount recommended by an actuary, in accordance with generally accepted actuarial principles, that will be sufficient to pay any insurance premiums and the uninsured portion of claims that are anticipated to be made based on occurrences during the year in which the tax is collected. Payment of claims and premiums may either be made directly from the reserve account or appropriations may be made from the reserve account to an operating account for such payments. No other transfers may be made from the fund except in accordance with the procedure specified in s. 65.06 (6) (a) and unless:

65.07(1)(s)1. 1. If the fund is to be dissolved, an actuary has determined that all claims that are to be paid from the fund have been paid or a sufficient reserve has been created from the fund to pay such claims; or

65.07(1)(s)2. 2. If the fund is to be continued and the types of claims or the amount of coverage of claims by the fund is to be reduced, an actuary has determined, under generally accepted actuarial principles, that the balance in the fund exceeds the amount necessary to pay claims and premiums and the amount transferred is not more than the excess amount.

65.07(2) (2) The common council may allow funds established under sub. (1) (c), (i), (k), (o), (r) and (s) to accumulate from year to year.

65.07 History History: 1971 c. 152 s. 38; 1971 c. 154; 1973 c. 90, 333; 1975 c. 39, 80, 200, 224; 1977 c. 113 ss. 4, 6; 1977 c. 203 s. 101; 1977 c. 418 ss. 402 to 407, 929 (42); 1979 c. 34; 1981 c. 20, 61, 93; 1983 a. 27; 1983 a. 207 ss. 93 (8), 95; 1985 a. 29, 135; 1985 a. 225 ss. 28, 100; 1987 a. 27, 377; 1993 a. 437; 1995 a. 27; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 2005 a. 453.

65.10 65.10 City officers to pay receipts monthly. Each city officer shall keep an itemized and accurate account of all moneys received by the officer in the officer’s official capacity for fees, commissions and otherwise, and shall at the end of each month, during that officer’s term of office, pay into the city treasury all such money in that officer’s hands and file a duly verified copy of that officer’s account with the city comptroller, together with a receipt of the city treasurer showing that such money has been paid into the city treasury. Until such account and receipt are so filed, it shall not be lawful for the common council or city officer, to order, draw, countersign or deliver any warrant for the payment of the salary or allowance of any such delinquent officer.

65.10 History History: 1991 a. 316.

65.20 65.20 Executive budget procedures in cities of the 1st class.

65.20(1) (1) Alternative. As an alternative to any other budget procedure under this chapter, the common council of any city of the 1st class may, by adoption of a charter ordinance, permanently transfer the duties and responsibilities of the board of estimates relating to the preparation of the proposed budget under ss. 65.02 to 65.06 to the mayor of such city. Any charter ordinance adopted under this section shall provide that:

65.20(1)(a) (a) The functions of the board of estimates relating to the preparation of the city budget are permanently transferred to the mayor who shall prepare the proposed budget and present it to the common council. The budget presented by the mayor shall be called the “executive budget” and its contents shall comply with the requirements of ss. 65.02 to 65.04 in all respects, consistent with any variation that is necessary due to the common council having adopted a biennial budget procedure under s. 65.025.

65.20(1)(am) (am) Any budget department existing on October 25, 1977 shall be transferred to the office of the mayor. The director and employees of the department shall retain their civil service status.

65.20(1)(b) (b) Each department shall submit to the mayor not later than the 2nd Tuesday in May of each budget period on forms approved by the budget director an estimate in detail of the department’s needs for the ensuing budget period, including a statement of any permanent improvements to be made and an estimate of expenditures therefor, and including such information supplied in such form as the mayor requests.

65.20(1)(c) (c) Any department whose funds are not subject to the control of the common council may include in its estimate such sum as it deems reasonably necessary for a contingent fund for emergency purposes or other purposes which may arise during the budget period requiring the expenditure of money in addition to the sums provided for the several purposes or for purposes for which no express provision is made in the budget.

65.20(1)(d) (d) The mayor shall hold hearings with respect to departmental requests at the times and places the mayor or the common council, by ordinance, directs. All hearings shall be open to the public. The mayor shall conduct the hearings in the manner in which the mayor determines best suited to fulfilling the purpose of the hearings. For each budget period, the mayor shall prepare a requested budget summary which shall be published at least once prior to the commencement of the hearings in the newspaper having the largest circulation in the city. A complete copy of the entire requested budget shall be made available for public inspection in the office of the city clerk.

65.20(1)(e) (e) From the estimates before him or her, the mayor shall make and submit to the common council, on or before September 28 each budget period, a proposed budget setting forth in detail the amounts proposed to be spent by each department and the various purposes therefor and the amounts of money for each purpose it is proposed shall be appropriated by the council. The proposed budget shall comply with s. 65.02 (5) to (11). The proposed budget summary shall be published forthwith in at least one and not more than 2 daily newspapers having the largest circulation in the city as a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, and the proposed budget summary shall be printed forthwith in the proceedings of the common council. A complete copy of the entire proposed budget shall be made available for inspection in the office of the city clerk. If any department fails to file its estimates as provided in this section, the mayor shall make a proposed budget for the department specifying the purposes for which and the amount of funds the department may expend.

65.20(1)(f) (f) The mayor may not change any sum or purpose of any department which by law is authorized to determine the purposes of its expenditures and the tax to be levied therefor, unless the department by formal resolution shall so determine by an affirmative vote of a majority of its members. The mayor shall then make the change and include a certified copy of the resolution with its estimates to be filed with the common council.

65.20(1)(g) (g) In addition to the purposes required to be set forth in detail, the mayor may provide a contingent fund for such sum as the mayor deems reasonably necessary for emergency and other purposes that may arise during the budget period requiring the expenditure of money in addition to the sums provided for the several purposes, and for purposes for which no express provision is made in the budget.

65.20(1)(h) (h) The mayor shall also include in the proposed budget the amount of bonds and the purposes for them, to be issued during the budget period, except such bonds as are authorized to be omitted by express provision of law. Bonds authorized to be omitted include bonds issued for the purpose of refunding prior indebtedness of the city.

65.20(1)(i) (i) At the meeting of the common council at which the proposed budget is submitted by the mayor, the common council shall determine the place and time of a public hearing on the budget which shall be held jointly by the common council and by the mayor not less than 10 days after the publication under par. (e), nor later than October 20. The common council shall cause a notice of the place and time of the hearing to be published as a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, which hearing may not be less than 7 days after the date of the last publication of the notice in at least one and not more than 2 daily newspapers having the largest circulation in the city.

65.20(1)(j) (j) All functions of the board of estimates and the budget examining committee not related to the preparation of the proposed budget are transferred to the finance committee of the common council, except that any administrative matter shall be delegated to a budget department existing under par. (am) or by a budget department created under sub. (2).

65.20(1)(k) (k) The operating and corporation budget shall be prepared on a program basis, a performance basis or similar basis. The budget shall be in the technical form prescribed by a budget department existing under par. (am) or by a budget department created under sub. (2).

65.20(2) (2) Creation of budget department by charter ordinance. If the city council adopts a charter ordinance under sub. (1), the city council may also adopt a charter ordinance which establishes a budget department in the office of the mayor and which defines the department’s authority and operational procedures. A charter ordinance adopted under this subsection shall provide that:

65.20(2)(a) (a) The budget director and employees of the budget department shall be selected under civil service rules and procedures. The budget department shall assist in preparing and analyzing the budget and shall be responsible to the mayor.

65.20(2)(b) (b) The budget department shall make special studies, provide budget and management analysis and information and perform any other duties related to the department’s functions, as the council determines are necessary.

65.20 History History: 1977 c. 109; 1983 a. 207, 234, 538; 1987 a. 289; 1989 a. 266; 2019 a. 42.

65.90 65.90 Municipal budgets.

65.90(1) (1) Unless otherwise provided, in this section, “municipality” means each county other than counties having a population of 750,000 or more, each city, excepting cities of the 1st class, village, town, school district, technical college district and all other public bodies that have the power to levy or certify a general property tax or budget. Except as provided in sub. (1m), every municipality shall annually, prior to the determination of the sum to be financed in whole or in part by a general property tax, funds on hand or estimated revenues from any source, formulate a budget and hold public hearings thereon.

65.90(1m) (1m) 

65.90(1m)(am) (am) For purposes of adopting and implementing a biennial budget as described in this subsection, “municipality” means a county other than a county having a population of 750,000 or more; a city other than a city of the 1st class; a village; or a town.

65.90(1m)(b) (b) A municipality may adopt a biennial budget by implementing the procedures under this subsection and using the procedures under this section. If a municipality chooses to adopt a biennial budget, it shall adopt such a budget in an odd-numbered year for the next 2 fiscal years that follow immediately the year in which the budget is adopted.

65.90(1m)(c) (c) For any municipality to proceed under this subsection, the governing body of the municipality shall adopt a resolution or enact an ordinance stating its intent to adopt a biennial budget. Once a resolution is adopted or an ordinance is enacted, such an action takes effect and may not be reconsidered or repealed, except as provided in par. (d).

65.90(1m)(d) (d) The governing body of a municipality that has adopted a biennial budget procedure as provided in this subsection may return to the use of an annual budget procedure if the governing body, by a two-thirds majority vote, adopts a resolution or enacts an ordinance stating its intent to adopt an annual budget.

65.90(2) (2) 

65.90(2)(a) (a) An annual budget shall list all existing indebtedness and all anticipated revenue from all sources during the ensuing year and shall likewise list all proposed appropriations for each department, activity and reserve account during the said ensuing year. Such budget shall also show actual revenues and expenditures for the preceding year, actual revenues and expenditures for not less than the first 6 months of the current year and estimated revenues and expenditures for the balance of the current year. Such budget shall also show for informational purposes by fund all anticipated unexpended or unappropriated balances, and surpluses.

65.90(2)(b) (b) A biennial budget shall list all existing indebtedness and all anticipated revenue from all sources during the ensuing budget period and shall likewise list all proposed appropriations for each department, activity and reserve account during that period. A biennial budget shall also show actual revenues and expenditures for the preceding budget period, actual revenues and expenditures for not less than the first 18 months of the current budget period and estimated revenues and expenditures for the balance of the period to which the budget applies. Such budget shall also show for informational purposes by fund all anticipated unexpended or unappropriated balances, and surpluses.

65.90(3) (3) 

65.90(3)(a) (a) A summary of the budget required under sub. (1) or authorized under sub. (1m) and notice of the place where the budget in detail is available for public inspection and notice of the time and place for holding the public hearing thereon shall be published as a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, in the municipality at least 15 days prior to the time of the public hearing except that:

65.90(3)(a)1. 1. In towns a summary of the budget required under sub. (1) or authorized under sub. (1m) and notice of the time and place of the public hearing thereon shall be posted in 3 public places at least 15 days prior to the time of the public hearing.

65.90(3)(a)2. 2. Any school district reproducing and providing general distribution within the district of an annual report incorporating a budget summary at least 15 days prior to the annual meeting is exempt from the notice requirements of this paragraph.

65.90(3)(a)3. 3. A common school district, as defined under s. 115.01 (3), shall publish a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, as required under this paragraph, at least 10 days prior to the time of the public hearing thereon.

65.90(3)(b) (b) Any budget summary required under par. (a) shall include all of the following for each fiscal year of the proposed budget and the budget in effect, and shall also include the percentage change between the budget of the current year and each fiscal year of the proposed budget:

65.90(3)(b)1. 1. For the general fund, all expenditures in the following categories:

65.90(3)(b)1.a. a. General government.

65.90(3)(b)1.b. b. Public safety.

65.90(3)(b)1.c. c. Public works.

65.90(3)(b)1.d. d. Health and human services.

65.90(3)(b)1.e. e. Culture, recreation and education.

65.90(3)(b)1.f. f. Conservation and development.

65.90(3)(b)1.g. g. Capital outlay.

65.90(3)(b)1.h. h. Debt service.

65.90(3)(b)1.i. i. Other financing uses.

65.90(3)(b)2. 2. For the general fund, all revenues from the following sources:

65.90(3)(b)2.a. a. Taxes.

65.90(3)(b)2.b. b. Special assessments.

65.90(3)(b)2.c. c. Intergovernmental revenues.

65.90(3)(b)2.d. d. Licenses and permits.

65.90(3)(b)2.e. e. Fines, forfeitures and penalties.

65.90(3)(b)2.f. f. Public charges for services.

65.90(3)(b)2.g. g. Intergovernmental charges.

65.90(3)(b)2.h. h. Miscellaneous revenue.

65.90(3)(b)2.i. i. Other financing sources.

65.90(3)(b)3. 3. Revenue and expenditure totals for each impact fee that is imposed by a municipality.

65.90(3)(b)4. 4. All beginning and year-end governmental and proprietary fund balances.

65.90(3)(b)5. 5. The contribution of the property tax to each governmental fund and to each proprietary fund that receives property tax revenue and the totals for all funds.

65.90(3)(b)6. 6. Revenue and expenditure totals, by fund, for each governmental fund, and for each proprietary fund and the revenue and expenditure totals for all funds combined.

65.90(3)(bm) (bm) Any budget summary created under par. (a) shall include an itemization of proposed increases and decreases to the current year budget, and an itemization of proposed increases and decreases between the first and second year of a biennial budget, due to new or discontinued activities and functions.

65.90(3)(c) (c) The department of public instruction under s. 115.28, the department of revenue under s. 73.10 and the technical college system board under s. 38.04 shall encourage and consult with interested public and private organizations regarding the budget summary information required under pars. (a) and (b). The department of public instruction and the technical college system board shall specify the revenue and expenditure detail that is required under par. (b) 1. and 2. for school districts and for technical college districts.

65.90(3)(d) (d) A municipality may publish any additional budget summary information that its governing body considers necessary, but the additional information shall be reported separately from the information required under pars. (a), (b) and (bm).

65.90(4) (4) Not fewer than 15 days or, in the case of common school districts, as defined under s. 115.01 (3), not fewer than 10 days, after the publication of the proposed budget and the notice of hearing thereon a public hearing shall be held at the time and place stipulated at which any resident or taxpayer of the governmental unit shall have an opportunity to be heard on the proposed budget. The budget hearing may be adjourned from time to time. In school districts holding an annual meeting the time and place of the budget hearing shall be the time and place of the annual meeting.

65.90(5) (5) 

65.90(5)(ag) (ag) In this subsection, “members-elect” has the meaning given in s. 66.10015 (1) (bs).

65.90(5)(ar) (ar) Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c) and except for alterations made pursuant to a hearing under sub. (4), the amount of tax to be levied or certified, the amounts of the various appropriations and the purposes for such appropriations stated in a budget required under sub. (1) or authorized under sub. (1m) may not be changed unless authorized by a vote of two-thirds of the members-elect of the governing body of the municipality. Any municipality, except a town, that makes changes under this paragraph shall publish either a class 1 notice of the changes, under ch. 985, within 15 days after any change is made or post a notice of the changes on the municipality’s website within 15 days after any change is made. Failure to give notice shall preclude any changes in the proposed budget and alterations thereto made under sub. (4).

65.90(5)(b) (b) A county board may authorize its standing committees to transfer funds between budgeted items of an individual county office or department, if such budgeted items have been separately appropriated, and to supplement the appropriations for a particular office, department, or activity by transfers from the contingent fund. Such committee transfers shall not exceed the amount set up in the contingent fund as adopted in the annual budget, nor aggregate in the case of an individual office, department, or activity in excess of 10 percent of the funds originally provided for such office, department, or activity in such annual budget. The publication provisions of par. (ar) shall apply to all committee transfers from the contingent fund.

65.90(5)(c) (c)

65.90(5)(c)1. 1. A governing body or a committee authorized by the governing body may, at any time, decrease appropriation amounts in a biennial budget.

65.90(5)(c)2. 2. In October or November of an even-numbered year, the governing body of a municipality may change any appropriation or revenue amount in relation to the 2nd year of the biennial budget by a simple majority vote of the members-elect of the governing body.

65.90(6) (6) As part of the annual budget required under sub. (1) or the biennial budget authorized under sub. (1m), the governing body of any municipality and of any county having a population of 750,000 or more may establish and maintain, and levy a tax for, a liability reserve fund for the purpose of paying liability claims against the municipality or premiums on insurance to pay such claims. The governing body may allow amounts appropriated to the fund to accumulate from year to year. The annual taxes levied for this purpose may not exceed the level necessary to collect the amount recommended by an actuary, in accordance with generally accepted actuarial principles, that will be sufficient to pay any insurance premiums and the uninsured portion of claims that are anticipated to be made based on occurrences during the year in which the tax is collected. Payment of claims and premiums may either be made directly from the reserve account or appropriations may be made from the reserve account to an operating account for such payments. No other transfers may be made from the fund except in accordance with the procedure specified in sub. (5) (ar) and unless:

65.90(6)(a) (a) If the fund is to be dissolved, an actuary has determined that all claims that are to be paid from the fund have been paid or a sufficient reserve has been created from the fund to pay such claims; or

65.90(6)(b) (b) If the fund is to be continued and the types of claims or the amount of coverage of claims by the fund is to be reduced, an actuary has determined, under generally accepted actuarial principles, that the balance in the fund exceeds the amount necessary to pay claims and premiums and the amount transferred is not more than the excess amount.

65.90 History History: 1971 c. 40, 154; 1971 c. 211 ss. 77, 124; 1973 c. 224; 1975 c. 224; 1977 c. 418; 1981 c. 203; 1985 a. 225; 1987 a. 314, 377; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39, 189; 1993 a. 399; 1995 a. 27, s. 9145 (1); 1997 a. 27; 2005 a. 477; 2009 a. 177; 2015 a. 138; 2017 a. 207 s. 5; 2019 a. 42; 2021 a. 239 ss. 28 to 30, 73, 74.

65.90 Annotation Under former sub. (5), 2017 stats., the vote of two-thirds of a board’s entire membership is needed to transfer funds from a contingency fund to use for a purpose not anticipated in the budget. 76 Atty. Gen. 145.