Understanding Wisconsin's County Government: Structure, Services, and History

1. State and Local Government Chapter 5 Counties

2. Background • Regional government has been around for a long time • 7th century, England divided into “shires” with a “shire-reeve” to control it aka “sheriff” • Medieval France, counts were given lands called “counties” • British and French among the first to settle America, so their systems were implemented here • Counties remain a way to divide states into smaller areas that can be more effectively managed and governed • Counties were in WI before it was even an official state • Now we have 72 counties • See p 72

3. Counties • Counties vary greatly in terms of population, size of land included in it, types of people living in it, geography and natural features • Largest is Marathon- 1545 sq miles • Smallest is Ozaukee- 232 sq miles • Most populous is Milwaukee- 937,000 people • Least populous is Menominee- 4,633 people

4. Role of the County • 2 main purposes- provide certain services for the state and act as a unit of local self-government • Assists the state in many ways: enforcing state laws through the sheriff’s office, the D.A. represents the state in lawsuits, county highway dept maintains state highways within its borders, etc. • County is given powers by the state to handle local matters but is limited by the specifications of the WI state constitution

5. County Organization • County Board of Supervisors: passes ordinances (laws) and resolutions • Often divides into committees to handle duties i.e. finance, personnel, agriculture, highways, parks, zoning, etc. • If the county does not have an executive or administrator, the committee makes most decisions and supervises the dept under their wing- this is called government by committee • County supervisors are elected on a nonpartisan basis for two-year terms except in Milwaukee County which is for four years • County boards must meet 2x per year: April is an organizational meeting (elects its own officers, names committees) Oct/Nov meeting is for the budget

6. County Officials • If one officer manages the county government and are elected, they are called the county executive • County administrator- If they are appointed by the county board • They manage the affairs of the county, submit an annual budget, make certain appointments to office, etc. • Exec is elected on a nonpartisan ballot, serves four years, and is independent of the county board, also has veto powers • Administrators serve indefinitely, at the pleasure of the county board, no veto power • In WI there are 10 executives and 10 administrators • In counties without either, an administrative coordinator is appointed by the board • More complex and populated counties have executives and administrators to manage its government whereas smaller, rural areas usually do not

7. Other Officials • Each county is required to elect (in Nov, by party) certain officials: • District attorney • Sheriff • Clerk (secretary for the county board) • Treasurer (handles all county gov’t funds) • Register of deeds • Clerk of circuit court • Coroner • Surveyor

8. Major county services • See figures 7 and 8 on pps 78-9 (will be on test!) • Health and social services take up 50 percent or more of the budget • Operation and maintenance of highways also is a major undertaking for the county • Public safety another major concern for the county (sheriff, D.A., coroner) • Note that coroners are not needed if medical examiners are available • 2 types of taxes provide revenue for the county: property and county sales tax