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Summary of role and structures of Local Governments in Wisconsin
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Role ofLocal Government
Philip J. Freeburg, J.D.Local Government Center,
University of Wisconsin Extension-Madison
ObjectivesRoles and Relationship of Local
Government to State and Federal Government
Roles and Structures of Wisconsin Local Governments
We Know:
Federal Government
State Government
Local Government
Federal and State GovernmentFederal Government role: Constitution is the framework of federal
powers
What are these powers?
Federal Government PowersDefenseInternational and Native American RelationsRegulate Interstate & Foreign CommercePostal Service and RoadsCurrency and Regulation of MoneyFederal Court SystemCopyrights and PatentsTaxation and Borrowing MoneyProvide for Common Defense & General Welfare
State PowersAmendment 10 – US Constitution
Powers of the States and People. The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
Powers of Local GovernmentsThe US constitution does not mention County,
Town, City, or other Municipal Government
Government ResponsibilityBecause all other government responsibilities
fall to the states, state governments create and control local governments.
Local Government supply most of citizens daily services
Local government is where most people see effective democracy at work
Relationships of Federal, State and Local Government in Action
You live in a Town & your neighbor’s house is on fire. You call 911 for help.
Where does help come from?
The White House?Congress?Governor or the State Legislature?Your County?Your Town?The City?
To answer the question let’s follow the path of the Firefighters' gear to the fire next door:
Fire fighters wear special insulated and fire resistant protective gear
Your local Town Board decided:
How to provide town fire protectionHow to fund it with taxes or grantsMaybe entered an agreement with another
local government to obtain or jointly provide fire protection
County :Provides the 911 Service to dispatch the fire
departmentThrough Emergency Government:
Coordinates emergency service in the countyAssisted with grants for equipment and
training
State GovernmentSets requirements and standards for local
governments to provide fire protectionSometimes assists or services grant funding
Federal GovernmentThrough Department of Homeland Security
grant programs provide funds for local fire departments, including funds for fire fighter gear
Can you think of other ways your local government interacts with you and other governments?
Highways
Law enforcement
Education
Social Services
Other
Wisconsin Local Governments
72 Counties1,265 Towns402 Villages190 Cities426 School Districts16 Wisconsin Technical
College Districts
“Wisconsin has a tradition of many local government services handled
‘close to home’ by local people.”The Framework of Your Wisconsin Government
Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance (2005)
Organization of Wis. Local Government
CountyCounty Executive,
County Administrator or Administrative
Coordinator
Circuit Court
County Board
Central AdministrationCounty ExecutiveCounty AdministratorAdministrative Coordinator
Elected County OfficialsSheriff*District Attorney *Coroner*Register of Deeds*
*Positions named in State Constitution
Clerk of Circuit CourtsCounty ClerkTreasurerSurveyor
County Boardof Supervisors
Supervisors serve primarily a legislative roleThe legislative function is largely limited to policy
making, law making, budgetary approval, and cooperative decision-making
No operational control resides with individual supervisors
Home RuleDefinition: the authority the state concedes to
a local government to govern its own affairs within its own boundaries.
Home RuleCities and Villages:
Permitted “to determine their local affairs and government, subject only to this constitution and to such enactments of the legislature of state-wide concern as with uniformity shall affect every city or every village.”
Counties: May exercise any organizational or administrative
power, subject only to the constitution and to any enactment of the legislature which is of statewide concern and which uniformly affects every county.
“Administrative home rule.”
Towns
Town Meeting
Town Board of
Supervisors
Town MeetingMeeting of “Electors”
All persons eligible to voteDirect Powers - Examples:
Levy taxes Fix compensation for town offices.Combine certain town offices, or make some town
offices part-time.Grants of Authority, Directives, Authorizations -
Examples:Delegate Tax Levy AuthorityExercise Village PowersPurchase or convey town real property
Town Board ofSupervisors
3 to 5 SupervisorsDecision Making and AdministrationChairman:
Presides over Board Meetings and Town Meetings
Signs Town documentsSees to administration of StatutesAct on Authorization of BoardStatute specified duties
Typical Town Services
Public Improvements, Road Building and Maintenance
Regulation & Enforcement as required by state and county
Parks and Recreation FacilitiesSome Towns :
PoliceLand Use Regulation“Village Powers”
Town OfficialsClerkTreasurerConstable
Finer Point“Town” is a specific unit of government
“Township” is surveyors geographic unit, typically 6 miles by six miles
Cities and Villages“Incorporated”Extensive “Home Rule”Usually more concentrated populationMay annex town area(s)Direct Legislation available to voters
Cities
Mayor City Council
Mayor Veto power as to all acts of the council
except where it is expressly or by necessary implication not permitted
Chief Executive OfficerOversees state and local law is observed and
enforcedProvide information and recommendation
action to City CouncilAppoint citizens to Commissions and BoardsHead of police and fire departments
Unless Police and Fire commission has management power
City CouncilMayor presides but only votes to break a
tieMost elected to represent districtsLength of terms, Staggered terms
determine by Charter Ordinance under Home Rule
City CouncilAlderpersons serve primarily a legislative
roleThe legislative function is largely limited
to policy making, law making, budgetary approval, and cooperative decision-making
No operational control resides with individual Alderpersons
City OfficialsClerkTreasurerAttorney*Police and Fire ChiefsAssessor*Engineer*Board of Public Works*Street Commissioner*
*Or provide otherwise for performance of their assigned duties
Villages
Board of Trustees
Village Board of Trustees6 Trustees
3 Trustees in villages of 350 people or lessElected at LargeVillage President
Presides over Board Meetings“Maintain Peace and Good Order”Sees that “ordinances are… obeyed”
Village Board of TrusteesAs with County Supervisors and
Alderpersons, a Village Trustee has no power to act unilaterally or speak for the village other than as part of a quorum
No supervisory authority rests with individual Trustees
Village OfficialsClerkTreasurerAssessorPolice and Fire Chiefs
Third Branch Cities, Villages and Towns
Municipalities may create Municipal CourtsHears, Decides and Imposes Judgments on
Ordinance Violation CasesMunicipal Judge(s) electedJudges supervised by Supreme Court
Manager Form of GovernmentCity Council-Manager or Village Board-
Manager PlanAdopted by Charter Ordinance or Public
Petition and ReferendumAppoint a manager who then is:
the chief executive officer of the city [or village]
The head of the city [or village] administration19 Cities and Villages have Managers Form
of Government
Manager Form of GovernmentChapter 64 provides for the Council/Manager
Plan
Unique in that it provides for a City Manager to be the CEO and does not provide for a Mayor
11 Wisconsin Cities use this form
Other Local GovernmentsTown Sanitary DistrictsMetropolitan Sewerage DistrictLake DistrictsDrainage DistrictsWisconsin Technical College DistrictsSchool District
Questions
Find Out MoreLocal Government Center
lgc.uwex.eduThe Framework of Your Wisconsin Government
published by The Wisconsin Taxpayer AllianceThe Changing World of Wisconsin Local
Government by Susan C. Paddock in 97-98 Wisconsin Blue Book
Officials Handbooks from Wis. Towns Association, Wis. Counties Association and League of Wis. Municipalities
Role ofLocal Government
Philip J. Freeburg, J.D.Local Government Center,
University of Wisconsin Extension-Madison
234 Lowell Hall, 610 Langdon StreetMadison, WI 53703
(608) 265-6273
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