The League of Wisconsin Municipalities applauds the Legislature for passing and the Governor for signing the following bills positively impacting municipalities. The League had a role in introducing two of these bills. Both houses passed each of these bills with bipartisan support.
SB 91 — Authorizes water quality credit trades to be facilitated by a central clearinghouse. This bill creates another option for communities to use when attempting to find affordable ways to comply with phosphorus and other water pollution standards that apply to wastewater treatment plant effluent and stormwater. The League thanks Sen. Cowles (R-Green Bay) and Rep. Kitchens (R-Sturgeon Bay) for introducing this bill.
SB 203 – Allows municipal governing bodies to delegate to the clerk or other appropriate official the authority to issue operator’s (bartender’s) licenses. This bill will speed up the time it takes for a person to obtain an operator’s license and free up more time on the governing body’s agenda for policy actions. The League thanks Sen. Kapenga (R-Delafield) and Rep. Knodl (R-Germantown) for introducing this bill.
SB 108 — Makes the process for filling vacancies in elective city and village offices clearer and easier to follow. The bill eliminates confusing dates in current law while retaining the flexibility local governing bodies need for determining how best to fill a vacancy. The League worked with Rep. Brooks (R-Saukville) and Sen. Stroebel (R-Saukville) to draft this bill and we thank them for introducing it.
AB 310 – Makes it possible for a municipality or county to conduct a referendum to exceed levy limits earlier in the year than November, which is the earliest such a referendum can occur under current law. November is too late to inform the annual municipal budget writing process. The League worked with the authors and the Wisconsin Counties Association on this bill. The League thanks Rep. Novak (R-Dodgeville), Rep. Shankland (D-Stevens Point) and Sen. Marklein (R-Spring Green) for introducing AB 310.
AB 472 – Treats joint emergency medical services districts the same as joint fire departments under the levy limit law. The bill expands the joint fire department levy limit exception to also include payments for charges assessed by a joint emergency medical services district. The League thanks Rep. Loudenbeck (R-Clinton) and Sen. Nass (R-Whitewater) for introducing this bill.
