Chapter 63 — COUNTY AND CITY CIVIL SERVICE

63.01 County civil service commission; appointment; terms. (1) There shall be a civil service commission in every county containing 750,000 inhabitants or more according to the last state or United States census and in all other counties the county board of supervisors may establ…

63.02 Rules; secretary; employees; offices. (1) Such commissioners, as soon as possible after their appointment and qualification, shall prepare and adopt such rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of ss. 63.01 to 63.16 as in their judgment shall be adapted to secure …

63.03 Classification. (1) In every county in which a commission is appointed, under ss. 63.01 to 63.16, all offices and positions in the public service in the county shall be divided into 2 classes, namely, the classified and the unclassified service. All such offices and positio…

63.04 Appointments; promotions and removals in classified service. On and after January first next succeeding the date when ss. 63.01 to 63.16 become applicable in any county no person shall be appointed or promoted to, reduced in, transferred to or in, or removed from the classi…

63.05 Certifications; appointments; temporary assignments. (1) If an appointing authority in any county with a commission under ss. 63.01 to 63.16 learns that a vacancy has occurred or is about to occur in any position in the classified service in his or her department, the appoi…

63.06 Rights of employees in military service. Any person in the classified service in any such county who is now or hereafter becomes an active member of the military or naval forces of the United States during a period officially proclaimed May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES…

63.065 Elected county or state officers. A permanent employee in the classified service of any county having a population of 750,000 or more, who is elected to a county or state office shall be granted a leave of absence without pay from a position for the period of his or her en…

63.07 Temporary appointments. (1) (a) When need exists for the filling of a position in the classified service for a period of not to exceed 6 months’ duration, a temporary appointment shall be made for such period from the proper eligible list or as provided in s. 63.05 (3). Suc…

63.08 Eligible lists. (1) COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION. (a) Any applicant for an examination under s. 63.05, other than an applicant for a deputy sheriff position under s. 59.26 (8) (a), shall be a resident of this state before applying for an examination, but the commission may not r…

63.085 Certification and appointment of handicapped; special lists of eligibles. The director of personnel, with the approval of the commission, may prepare without examination special lists of eligible persons certified as having a severe physical or mental impairment and as bei…

63.09 Efficiency records; promotions. The director of personnel, under the direction of the commission and with the advice of the heads of the departments involved, shall devise and introduce as rapidly and extensively as practicable a system of efficiency records to be based, am…

63.10 Demotion; dismissal; procedure. (1) Whenever a person possessing appointing power in the county, the chief executive officer of a department, board or institution, the county park commission, county election commission, civil service commission, and county board of welfare …

63.11 Standard scale of compensation. The director of personnel, under the direction of the commission and in cooperation with the county clerk, or county auditor, if any, and with the heads of the various departments, shall devise and recommend to the board of supervisors a stan…

63.12 Investigations; testimonial powers; witnesses. (1) Each member of the commission may subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, examine witnesses and compel the production of documents, records, and papers of all sorts in conducting such investigations as the commission may deem…

63.13 Certification of payrolls. No payment for personal services of any officer or employee in the classified service of any county wherein ss. 63.01 to 63.16 are applicable shall be made by any county officer unless the commission has certified that the officer or employee clai…

63.14 Prohibited influences and practices. (1) Except as provided otherwise by s. 63.08 (1) (f), no factor or influence other than the fitness of a person to perform the duties of the position in which the person is acting or employed, or to which the person is seeking appointmen…

63.15 Existing officers and employees, how affected. (1) In a county where ss. 63.01 to 63.16 go into effect after March 14, 1984: (a) The commission shall administer a noncompetitive examination to any person who is appointed by the county for a definite term, who is included wi…

63.16 are being carried into effect. The commission may examine such public records as it requires in relation to any such investigation. All officers and other persons in the civil service of the county shall attend and testify when required to do so by the commission. (2) In ca…

63.17 Violations, county civil service. Any person who willfully, or through culpable negligence, violates any provisions of ss. 63.01 to 63.16, or any rule promulgated in accordance with the provisions thereof, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall, on conviction thereof, …

63.18 First class city commission; appointment; terms. The mayor of each 1st class city, whether the city is incorporated by special act of the legislature or under the general laws of the state, shall, before June 15 in the year following the first state or national census, show…

63.19 Duties and powers of board. Every board of city service commissioners appointed under ss. 63.18 to 63.53 shall investigate the enforcement of ss. 63.18 to 63.53 and of its rules, adopted in accordance with ss. 63.18 to 63.53 to carry out the purposes of ss. 63.18 to 63.53 a…

63.20 Compulsory attendance and fees of witnesses. Any person who is served with a subpoena to appear and testify or to produce books and papers, issued by the board of city service commissioners in the course of any investigation conducted under ss. 63.18 to 63.53, and who refus…

63.21 Annual report. The board of commissioners shall, on or before March 15 in each year, make to the mayor for transmission to the common council of such city, a report showing its own action, the rules in force, the practical effects thereof, and any suggestions it may approve…

63.22 City and its officers to cooperate in carrying out the law. All officers of any such city shall aid the board in all proper ways in carrying out ss. 63.18 to 63.53, and at any place where examinations are to be held, shall allow the reasonable use of the public buildings fo…

63.23 Classification of offices. (1) The city service commission shall classify all offices and positions in the city service, excepting those subject to the exemptions of s. 63.27 and those subject to an exclusion under s. 119.33 (2) (e) 1. or 119.9002 (5) (a), according to the …

63.235 Delegation to board of school directors. In a 1st class city, the city service commission shall delegate its recruitment and hiring duties related to specified classifications of school employees to the board of school directors if the board adopts a resolution requesting …

63.24 Commission to make rules. The commissioners shall make such rules adapted to carry out the purposes of ss. 63.18 to 63.53 and not inconsistent with ss. 63.18 to 63.53, as in COUNTY AND CITY CIVIL SERVICE 63.27 their judgment shall be adapted to secure the best service for t…

63.25 Rules, what to require. (1) The rules mentioned in ss. 63.18 to 63.53 shall provide among other things for the following: (a) For open, competitive examinations and for other examinations by which to test applicants for office or for employment as to their practical fitness…

63.26 Appointments to conform to rules. From and after the adoption of such rules, all appointments to subordinate offices, positions and employments in the several departments of the service of such city, which are subject to such rules, shall be made by the respective heads of …

63.27 Rules not applicable to certain officers. Officers who are elected by the people, or who by the statutes are required to be elected by the city council, inspectors and clerks of election, one deputy in each department whose office was created and exists by reason of statute…

63.28 Civil service to include stenographic and clerical employees in the office of the city attorney. The expression “members of the law, fire and police departments” as used in s. 63.27 and as used in any charter ordinance in any city of the first class which may supersede, ame…

63.29 Civil service for attorneys in office of city attorney. (1) In any city of the first class the common council may by ordinance provide for civil service in the office of the city attorney except for the city attorney and the deputy city attorney. (2) The matters treated in …

63.30 Secretary; selection, duties. The board of city service commissioners shall select a secretary of the board, who shall be its chief executive and administrative officer and who shall, subject to its direction and control, administer the city civil service law and rules and …

63.31 Funds for board. The common council of any city of the first class shall hereafter provide such funds for the annual support and operation of the board of city service commissioners as in its judgment may be necessary for the purpose of carrying out all of its functions, du…

63.32 Applicants to be examined; character of examinations. All applicants for offices, places or employments in the civil service of such city, except those mentioned in s. 63.27, shall be residents of this state before their application for examination, and shall be subject to …

63.33 Examinations reasonable. The examinations held under ss. 63.18 to 63.53 shall consist of any reasonable and impartial method of ascertaining the fitness or relative merit of candidates. To ensure competitive equality between the blind and persons not so handicapped in conne…

63.34 Notice of examinations. Notice of the time, place and general scope of every examination shall be given by the board by publication of a class 3 notice, under ch. 985, and such notice shall also be posted by said board in a conspicuous place in its office at least 10 days b…

63.35 Application, contents. (1) Every application, in order to entitle the applicant to appear for examination, or to be examined, must state the facts under oath on the following subjects: (a) Full name, residence address and post-office address. (b) Citizenship. (c) Age. (d) P…

63.36 Appointment of examiners; compensation. (1) The board shall control all examinations, and may, whenever an examination is to take place, designate a suitable number of persons, either in or not in the official service of the city, to be examiners, and the examiners shall ma…

63.37 Board to keep a register of eligibles. From the returns or reports of the examiners, or from the examinations made by the board, the board shall prepare and keep a register for each grade or class of position in the service of such city, of the persons whose general average…

63.38 Persons examined not to be obstructed, aided or impersonated. No person or officer shall willfully and corruptly, by himself or in cooperation with one or more other persons, defeat, deceive or obstruct any person in respect to his or her right of examination, or corruptly …

63.39 Vacancies, how filled. (1) If a position classified and graded under ss. 63.18 to 63.53 becomes vacant, the appointing officer may fill the position or let it remain vacant. If the appointing officer chooses to fill the vacant position, the appointing officer may, with the …

63.40 Special expert class. (1) There is hereby created a new division of the classified service to be known as the special expert class. The board of city service commissioners shall place in this class all positions of a technical, scientific, or professional character, togethe…

63.41 Vacancies in special cases, how filled. In case of a vacancy in a position, requiring peculiar and exceptional qualifications of a scientific, technical or professional character, upon satisfactory evidence that competition is impracticable and that the position can be best…

63.42 Notice to commissioners of all appointments, and of all offices abandoned. Immediate notice in writing shall be given by the appointing power to the board of city service commissioners of all appointments, permanent or temporary, made under ss. 63.18 to 63.53 and the rules …

63.43 Removals for just cause only; reasons to be furnished in writing; hearings; decisions. (1) No person or employee holding an office or position classified and graded under ss. 63.18 to 63.53 shall be removed, discharged or reduced, except for just cause which shall not be po…

63.44 Provisions for removals not to apply to certain departments. Section 63.43 shall not apply to removals of persons in any department of the city where the department is under the supervision and control of a board or commission of 3 or more members, but every such board or c…

63.45 No payments approved or made of salary in the classified service except as provided. No treasurer, auditor, comptroller, other officer or employee of the city in which ss. 63.18 to 63.53 are effective shall approve the payment of or be in any manner concerned in paying, aud…

63.49 No promotion or demotion for making or refusing political contributions. No officer or employee of such May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 11 Updated 23-24 Wis. Stats. city shall discharge, or degrade, or promote, or in any manner change the official…

63.50 Use of money prohibited. No applicant for appointment in such official service, either directly or indirectly, shall pay or promise to pay any money or other valuable thing to any person whomsoever, for or on account of the applicant’s appointment or proposed appointment, a…