Chapter 60, TOWNS
83 sections in this chapter.
Wis. Stat. § 60.001 Definitions
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60.001 Definitions. In this chapter: 60.001(1)(1) “Annual town meeting” means the town meeting held under s. 60.11. 60.001(2)(2) “Special town meeting” means a town meeting, other than the annual town meeting, held under s. 60.12. 60.001(3)(3) “Town meeting” means the annual town…
Wis. Stat. § 60.01 Legal status; general powers
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60.01 Legal status; general powers. (1) A town is a body corporate and politic, with those powers granted by law. A town shall be designated in all actions and proceedings by its name, as “Town of ....”. (2) A town may: (a) Sue and be sued. (b) Acquire and hold real and personal …
Wis. Stat. § 60.03 Division and dissolution of towns generally
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60.03 Division and dissolution of towns generally. 60.03(1)(1) General rule. Subject to sub. (7), a town may be divided or dissolved under subs. (2) to (6). 60.03(2)(2) Petition. If at least 20 percent of the residents of a town who have a freehold interest in real property locat…
Wis. Stat. § 60.05 Organization of towns in special cases
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60.05 Organization of towns in special cases. (1) APPLICATION. (a) In this subsection, “area” means any government township or any contiguous territory which is part of one or more towns, which is equal in area to more than one government township but not more than 2 government t…
Wis. Stat. § 60.06 Validity of attachment or detachment
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60.06 Validity of attachment or detachment. The town board may bring an action to test the validity of an ordinance attaching or detaching all or part of the territory of the town to or from any town, village or city. Any expense incurred by the town board and its agents, attorne…
Wis. Stat. § 60.065 Change of town name
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60.065 Change of town name. The name of a town shall be changed if a petition designating the new name is signed and filed with the town clerk under the procedures in s. 9.20 (1), certified by the town clerk under the procedure in s. 9.20 (3), approved by the electors in an elect…
Wis. Stat. § 60.07 Delivery of papers to clerk of new town
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60.07 Delivery of papers to clerk of new town. If a new town is organized, the town clerk of the town from which the new town was organized shall deliver, if removable, all of his or her official papers and files pertaining to the new town and a certified copy of all relevant off…
Wis. Stat. § 60.09 When a county constitutes a town
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60.09 When a county constitutes a town. (1) GENERALLY. If a county is not divided into towns, it shall, for purposes of town government, be considered one town. (2) MENOMINEE COUNTY. The county of Menominee consists of one town, known as the town of Menominee. History: 1983 a. 53…
Wis. Stat. § 60.10 Powers of town meeting
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60.10 Powers of town meeting. (1) DIRECT POWERS. The town meeting may: (a) Raise money. Raise money, including levying taxes, to pay for expenses of the town, unless the authority has been delegated to the town board under sub. (2) (a). (b) Town offices and officers. 1. Fix the c…
Wis. Stat. § 60.11 Annual town meeting
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60.11 Annual town meeting. (1) REQUIREMENT. Each town shall hold an annual town meeting, as provided in this section. (2) WHEN HELD. (a) Except as provided in par. (b), the annual town meeting shall be held on the 3rd Tuesday of April. (b) 1. The annual town meeting may set a dat…
Wis. Stat. § 60.12 Special town meetings
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60.12 Special town meetings. (1) WHO MAY CONVENE. A special town meeting may be convened if: (a) Called by a town meeting. (b) A written request, signed by a number of electors equal to not less than 10 percent of the votes cast in the town for governor at the last general electi…
Wis. Stat. § 60.13 Presiding officer
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60.13 Presiding officer. (1) WHO PRESIDES. (a) If present, the town board chairperson shall chair the town meeting. If the town board chairperson is absent, another town board supervisor shall chair the town meeting. If no town board supervisor is present, the town meeting shall …
Wis. Stat. § 60.14 Procedure
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60.14 Procedure. (1) QUALIFIED VOTERS. Any qualified elector of the town, as defined under ch. 6, may vote at a town meeting. (2) METHOD OF ACTION; NECESSARY VOTES. All actions of a town meeting shall be by vote. All questions shall be decided by a majority of the electors voting…
Wis. Stat. § 60.15 Clerk
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60.15 Clerk. The town clerk shall serve as clerk of the town meeting. If the town clerk is absent, the deputy town clerk shall serve as town meeting clerk. If the deputy clerk is absent, the town meeting chairperson shall appoint a clerk for the meeting. The clerk of the town mee…
Wis. Stat. § 60.16 First town meeting in new towns
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60.16 First town meeting in new towns. (1) WHEN HELD. The first town meeting in a newly organized town shall be held at 8 p.m. on the 3rd Tuesday of the first April after the town is organized. If the 3rd Tuesday of the first April after a town is organized has passed and the fir…
Wis. Stat. § 60.20 Town board
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60.20 Town board. (1) MEMBERSHIP. The town board consists of the supervisors of the town. The board shall be designated “Town Board of ....”. (2) QUORUM. Two supervisors constitute a quorum of a 3member town board, 3 supervisors constitute a quorum of a 4member or 5-member town b…
Wis. Stat. § 60.21 Town board, increased size authorized
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60.21 Town board, increased size authorized. 60.21(1)(1) In towns where board has village powers. Any town board authorized to exercise village powers may, by ordinance, increase the number of supervisors to no more than 5. If the number of supervisors is increased to 4, the town…
Wis. Stat. § 60.22 General powers and duties
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60.22 General powers and duties. The town board: (1) CHARGE OF TOWN AFFAIRS. Has charge of all affairs of the town not committed by law to another body or officer or to a town employee. (2) CHARGE OF ACTIONS. Has charge of any action or legal proceeding to which the town is a par…
Wis. Stat. § 60.23 Miscellaneous powers
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60.23 Miscellaneous powers. The town board may: (1) JOINT PARTICIPATION. Cooperate with the state, counties and other units of government under s. 66.0301, including cooperative arrangements involving the acquisition, development, remodeling, construction, equipping, operation an…
Wis. Stat. § 60.24 Powers and duties of town board chairperson
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60.24 Powers and duties of town board chairperson. (1) GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. The town board chairperson shall: (a) Preside at board meetings. Preside over meetings of the town board. (b) Preside at town meetings. Preside over town meetings as provided under s. 60.13. (c) Sig…
Wis. Stat. § 60.30 Election, appointment of town officers; general provisions
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60.30 Election, appointment of town officers; general provisions. (1) ELECTED TOWN OFFICERS. (a) At the annual spring election in odd-numbered years, each town shall elect: 1. Except as provided under par. (b), 3 town board supervisors. One of the supervisors shall be designated …
Wis. Stat. § 60.305 Combined and part-time offices
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60.305 Combined and part-time offices. (1) CLERK AND TREASURER. Except as provided under sub. (3), the town meeting may: (a) Combine the offices of town clerk and town treasurer. If the offices are combined, the town board shall provide for an annual audit under s. 60.43 (2). (b)…
Wis. Stat. § 60.307 Appointment of town assessors
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60.307 Appointment of town assessors. (1) APPLICABILITY. This section does not apply to any town within the jurisdiction of a county assessor under s. 70.99. (2) TOWN MEETING AUTHORIZATION. If authorized by the town meeting under s. 60.10 (2) (j), the town board may select assess…
Wis. Stat. § 60.31 Official oath and bond
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60.31 Official oath and bond. (1) OFFICIAL OATH. Except as provided in sub. (3), every elected or appointed town officer shall take and file the oath under s. 19.01 within 5 days after notification of election or appointment. (2) OFFICIAL BOND. Every town clerk, deputy town clerk…
Wis. Stat. § 60.32 Compensation of elective town offices
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60.32 Compensation of elective town offices. 60.32(1)(1) Established by town meeting or board. 60.32(1)(a)(a) Except as provided under par. (b) and s. 66.0507, the town meeting shall establish the compensation of elective town offices. 60.32(1)(b)(b) If authorized by the town mee…
Wis. Stat. § 60.321 Reimbursement of expenses
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60.321 Reimbursement of expenses. (1) GENERALLY. The town board may provide for reimbursement of expenses necessarily incurred by any officer or employee of the town in the performance of official town duties. The board may determine who is eligible for expense reimbursement, whi…
Wis. Stat. § 60.323 Compensation when acting in more than one official capacity
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60.323 Compensation when acting in more than one official capacity. Except for offices combined under s. 60.305, no town may compensate a town officer for acting in more than one office of the town at the same time. History: 1983 a. 532; 2001 a. 16.
Wis. Stat. § 60.33 Duties of town clerk
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60.33 Duties of town clerk. The town clerk shall: (1) CLERK OF TOWN MEETING. Serve as clerk of the town meeting under s. 60.15. (2) CLERK OF TOWN BOARD. (a) Serve as clerk of the town board, attend meetings of the board and keep a full record of its proceedings. (b) File all acco…
Wis. Stat. § 60.331 Deputy town clerk
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60.331 Deputy town clerk. Each town clerk may appoint one or more deputies for whom the town clerk is responsible. A deputy shall take and file the official oath and bond under s. 60.31. The deputy shall perform the clerk’s duties upon direction of the clerk or upon inability of …
Wis. Stat. § 60.34 Duties of town treasurer
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60.34 Duties of town treasurer. The town treasurer shall: (1) RECEIVE AND DISBURSE TOWN MONEY. (a) Except as provided in s. 66.0608 (3m), receive and take charge of all money belonging to the town, or which is required by law to be paid into the town treasury, and disburse the mo…
Wis. Stat. § 60.341 Deputy town treasurer
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60.341 Deputy town treasurer. Each town treasurer may appoint one or more deputies for whom the treasurer is responsible. A deputy shall take and file the official oath and bond under s. 60.31. The deputy shall perform the treasurer’s duties upon direction of the treasurer or upo…
Wis. Stat. § 60.35 Duties of town constable
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60.35 Duties of town constable. (1) A town constable shall perform the duties established by the town board under s. 60.22 (4). (2) A town constable shall keep his or her office in the town. No constable who keeps his or her office outside the limits of the town may receive fees …
Wis. Stat. § 60.351 Town constable fees
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60.351 Town constable fees. (1) Town constables shall collect the fees prescribed for sheriffs in s. 814.70 for similar services, unless a higher fee is applicable under s. 814.705 (1) (d). (2) If any person except a party to an action performs the services of a town constable, t…
Wis. Stat. § 60.36 Municipal judge
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60.36 Municipal judge. The town board may provide for the election of a municipal judge under ch. 755. History: 1983 a. 532.
Wis. Stat. § 60.37 Town employees
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60.37 Town employees. (1) GENERAL. The town board may employ on a temporary or permanent basis persons necessary to carry out the functions of town government including, subject to sub. (4), any elected officer of the town. The board may establish the qualifications and terms of …
Wis. Stat. § 60.40 Preparation and adoption of budget
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60.40 Preparation and adoption of budget. (1) FISCAL YEAR; ANNUAL BUDGET. The town fiscal year is the calendar year. A town budget shall be adopted annually. (2) PREPARATION. The town board is responsible for preparation of the proposed budget required under s. 65.90. In preparin…
Wis. Stat. § 60.41 Annual financial statement
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60.41 Annual financial statement. The town board annually shall prepare a statement of the financial condition of the town and present the statement to the annual town meeting. In preparing the statement, the town board may provide for assistance by any person. The statement shal…
Wis. Stat. § 60.42 Finance book
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60.42 Finance book. The town clerk shall maintain a finance book under s. 60.33 (3). History: 1983 a. 532.
Wis. Stat. § 60.43 Financial audits
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60.43 Financial audits. (1) GENERAL. The town board may provide for financial audits under s. 66.0605. (2) AUDIT OF COMBINED CLERK AND TREASURER OFFICE. If the offices of town clerk and town treasurer are combined under s. 60.305 (1) (a), the town board shall arrange for an audit…
Wis. Stat. § 60.44 Claims against town
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60.44 Claims against town. (1) GENERAL PROCEDURE. (a) Claims for money against a town or against officers, officials, agents or employees of the town arising out of acts done in their official capacity shall be filed with the town clerk as provided under s. 893.80 (1d) (b). This …
Wis. Stat. § 60.45 Disbursements from town treasury
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60.45 Disbursements from town treasury. Disbursements from the town treasury shall be made under s. 66.0607. History: 1983 a. 532; 1999 a. 150 s. 672.
Wis. Stat. § 60.46 Public depository
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60.46 Public depository. The town board shall designate one or more public depositories for depositing funds of the town. The treasurer and the treasurer’s surety are not liable for loss, as defined under s. 34.01 (2), of money deposited in the name of the town in a designated pu…
Wis. Stat. § 60.47 Public contracts and competitive bidding
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60.47 Public contracts and competitive bidding. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (ag) “Highway” means a public way or thoroughfare, including any bridges on the public way or thoroughfare. (am) “Public contract” means a contract for the construction, execution, repair, remodelin…
Wis. Stat. § 60.50 Public works
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60.50 Public works. Without limitation because of enumeration, the town board may: (1) ACQUIRE LANDS. Notwithstanding s. 60.10 (2) (e), acquire lands to lay, construct, alter, extend or repair any highway, street or alley in the town. (2) STREETS, SEWERS AND SERVICE MAINS. Provid…
Wis. Stat. § 60.52 Sewer and water systems of adjoining municipality
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60.52 Sewer and water systems of adjoining municipality. (1) With the approval of the town board, any city or village adjoining a town may construct and maintain extensions of its sewer or water system in the town. An extension of a sewer or water system under this subsection is …
Wis. Stat. § 60.53 Service pipes and laterals
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60.53 Service pipes and laterals. Sections 62.16 (2) and 66.0911, relating to service pipes and laterals, are applicable to towns. History: 1983 a. 532; 1999 a. 150 s. 672.
Wis. Stat. § 60.54 Solid waste transportation
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60.54 Solid waste transportation. (1) The town board may designate any town highway which provides reasonable access to a solid waste disposal site or facility licensed under s. 289.31 as appropriate for the transportation of solid waste into, within or through the town for the p…
Wis. Stat. § 60.55 Fire protection
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60.55 Fire protection. (1) GENERAL AUTHORITY. (a) The town board shall provide for fire protection for the town. Fire protection for the town, or any portion of the town, may be provided in any manner, including: 1. Establishing a town fire department. 2. Joining with another tow…
Wis. Stat. § 60.553 Combined protective services
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60.553 Combined protective services. (1) Any town may provide police and fire protection services by any of the following: (a) A combined protective services department which is neither a police department under s. 60.56 (1) (a) nor a fire department under s. 60.55 (1) (a), and i…
Wis. Stat. § 60.555 Fire safety regulations
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60.555 Fire safety regulations. Except as provided in s. 101.14 (4) (de), the town board, by ordinance, may adopt regulations to prevent, detect and suppress fire and related fire hazards. The regulations may include provision for the inspection, at reasonable times, of property …