Resources for Local Officials
Below is a listing of available resources listed by type. These resources and others can also be found by browsing our topic pages.
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Model Agreements | Fact Sheets | Frequently Asked Questions | Papers | Powerpoint Slide Presentations | Reports | Resource Listing & Websites | Sample Ordinances Webinars | Levy Limits Impacts
Model Agreements
- Model Agreement #1: EMS
Fact Sheets
- Fact Sheet #1: Wisconsin Open Meetings Law
- Fact Sheet #1 en español – Reuniones Abiertas
- Fact Sheet #2: The Property Assessment and Tax Process for Towns, Villages and Cities
- Fact Sheet #3: Common Language Definitions of Terms Used in Real Estate Property Tax Matters in Wisconsin
- Fact Sheet #4: Annexation
- Fact Sheet #5: Powers, Compensation, Composition of Library Boards
- Fact Sheet #6: Town Meetings
- Fact Sheet #7: The Wisconsin Public Records Law
- Fact Sheet #7 en español – Ley de Registros Publicos
- Fact Sheet #8: Self-Organized Counties
- Fact Sheet #9: Wisconsin Business Improvement Districts – BIDs
- Fact Sheet #10: State Shared Revenues (RETIRED) The shared revenue program was renamed the County and Municipal Aid Program in 2003 with municipal payments frozen in that year and county payments in 2004. For program updates, see the Legislative Fiscal Bureau Informational Paper #18
- Fact Sheet #11: W-2, Organization Chart and Map (RETIRED)
- Fact Sheet #12: How Interpret an Ordinance
- Fact Sheet #13: Fences in Agricultural Areas
- Fact Sheet #14: Wisconsin Statutory Authority for Boundary & Related Agreements
- Fact Sheet #15: Wisconsin’s New Comprehensive Planning & Smart Growth Law(out of date and under revision 6/14)
- Fact Sheet #16: The Town Plan Commission (out of date and under revision 6/14)
- Fact Sheet #17: Financial Management in Local Government: Frequently Used Terms
- Fact Sheet #18: Village Powers for Town Boards (out of date and under revision 6/14)
- Fact Sheet #19: County Government in Wisconsin: History and Background
- Fact Sheet #20: Public Participation in Local Government Body Meetings
- Fact Sheet #21: Limits of County Board Administrative Authority
- Fact Sheet #22: Electronic Meetings
- Fact Sheet #23: Solar for Landowners
- Fact Sheet #24: Solar For Municipalities
Frequently Asked Questions
- Comprehensive Planning & Smart Growth Law FAQs (PDF)
- Reconsidering Main Motions FAQs (PDF)
- Closing Debate (aka “Calling the Question”) FAQs (PDF)
- Voting Procedures for Local Government Bodies FAQs (PDF)
- Participation Rights of the Chairperson FAQs (PDF)
- Quorum and Attendance of Members at Local Government Meetings FAQs (PDF)
- Abstentions FAQs (PDF)
- Friendly Amendments and Withdrawing Motions FAQs (PDF)
- What are the Legal Requirements for Minimum and Maximum BID Assessments? (PDF)
- Ethics and Conflicts of Interest – FAQs (PDF)
Papers
- Capital Improvement Planning (PDF)
- Alternatives for the Delivery of Government Services (PDF)
- Local Public Services In Wisconsin: Alternatives for Municipalities with a Focus on Privatization (PDF)
- Selected References (PDF)
- Tables (PDF)
- Graphs (PDF)
- Fact Sheet #1: Overview (PDF)
- Fact Sheet #2: Comparison of Service Production Methods and the Incidence of Privatization – Public Works and Transportation; Public Utilities; Parks and Recreation; and Cultural and Arts Programs (PDF)
- Fact Sheet #3: Comparison of Service Production Methods and the Incidence of Privatization – Public Safety; Health and Human Services; and Support Functions – (PDF)
- Fact Sheet #4: Factors Influencing the Decision to Privatize and Factors Contributing to Success (PDF)
- Fact Sheet #5: Administering/Bidding Contracts and Monitoring Contractor Performance (PDF)
- Civil Leadership for Vibrant Communities: Building Bridges through Deliberative Dialogue (PDF)
PowerPoint Slide Presentations
- Agendas and Minutes for Local Government (PowerPoint)
- Fundamentals of Effective Meetings: Basic Principles and Protocol (PowerPoint)
- Are You Ready to Run For Local Elected Office? (PowerPoint)
- Intergovernmental Cooperation: A Strategy for Limited Resources (PowerPoint)
- Ethics and Conflicts of Interest (PowerPoint)
- Financial Management Series #1 “Basics of Local Government Financial Management” (PowerPoint)
- Financial Management Series #2 “Local Government Budgets” (PowerPoint)
- Financial Management Series #3 “Using Net Present Value to Evaluate the Value of Money Over Time” (PowerPoint)
- Financial Management Series #4 “Impact Fees” (PowerPoint)
- Financial Management Series #5 “Debt Management” (PowerPoint)
- Financial Management Series #6 “An Introduction to Capital Planning” (PowerPoint)
- Financial Management Series #7 “Performance Measurement & Performance Based Budgeting (PBB)” Introductory Version (PowerPoint)
- Financial Management Series #8 “Performance Measurement & Performance Based Budgeting (PBB)” Instructional Version (PowerPoint)
- Financial Management Series #9 “Local Government Budgets: Approaches and Traits” (PowerPoint)
- Financial Management Series #10 “Audits” (PowerPoint)
- Financial Management Series #11 “Debt Indicators” (PowerPoint)
- Financial Management Series #12 “Bonds and Bond Ratings” (PowerPoint)
- Financial Management Series #13 – in process
- Financial Management Series #14 “Cost Benefit Analysis” (PowerPoint)
- Financial Management Series #15 “Efficiency Approaches” (PowerPoint)
- Financial Management Series #16 “Lean Government” (PowerPoint)
- Deliberative Governance: Civility and Civil Dialogue in Local Government (PowerPoint)
- Deliberative Governance: Leading the Way Toward More Collaborative Local Governance (PowerPoint)
- Deliberative Governance: Promoting Civil Discourse in Local Government (PowerPoint file)
- Deliberative Governance: Techniques in Civic Engagement (PowerPoint file)
Reports
Resource Listing & Websites
- GREAT (Graphing Revenues, Expenditures, and Taxes)
- GREAT software, available through the UW Wisconsin-Madison Applied Population Laboratory, makes it possible for Wisconsin towns, cities, villages, and counties to compare their revenues, expenditures, and taxes to other places of similar population.
- Counties
- Wisconsin Counties Association
- Wisconsin County Governments – web sites of Wisconsin counties, where one exists
- Division of Extension County Offices
- Municipalities in Wisconsin (Towns, Cities, Villages)
- State of Wisconsin Information & Agencies
- Information & Resources
- State of Wisconsin Internet Portal (Wi.Gov) – Link to state agencies, services, jobs, and more
- Wisconsin Blue Book: Phone and e-mail directory for state employees
- State of Wisconsin official website: Government topics: elected officials, courts and the law, elections and voting, local government, tribal government, federal government, State of Wisconsin Constitution, budgets and spending, state employee resources
- Agencies
- State Legislature
Local governments are granted a degree of autonomy, but still must comply with statutory requirements. The following links will help users locate information about the lawmakers and legislation.- Wisconsin State Legislature
- Wisconsin Joint Legislative Council
- Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau Publications
- Wisconsin Legislative Documents Search (Statutes, Acts, Administrative Code, and more)
- Wisconsin Statutes Table of Contents (with links to current version of statutes in PDF form)
- University of Wisconsin System
- University of Wisconsin Division of Extension
- UW-Division of Extension–County and Area Offices
- University of Wisconsin-Madison Programs:
- Agricultural and Applied Economics
- Applied Population Laboratory
- Center for Community Economic Development
- Center for Cooperatives
- Center for Quality and Productivity Improvement
- Certificate in Public Administration
- Certified Public Manager Program
- Environmental Resources Center
- Engineering Professional Development
- Institute for Research on Poverty (IRP)
- La Follette School of Public Affairs
- Nonprofit Management Education Center – Learner Resource Center
- Department of Political Science
- Department of Community and Environmental Sociology
- Transportation Information Center
- Department of Planning and Landscape Architecture
- Other Programs
- Local Government Education Programs – University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
- Criminal Justice Program– University of Wisconsin-Platteville
- U.S. Federal Government
- Executive Branch – Agencies
- EEOC Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- Federal Highway Administration
- Environmental Information Sources U.S. EPA
- U.S. Census Bureau
- Census Publications County Business Patterns
- State and County QuickFacts – quick, easy access to facts about people, business, and geography
- Rural Information Center (USDA) – provides services for rural communities and local officials.
- Legislative Branch
- Today on FedNet: Listen to live U.S. house and Senate hearings
- General Federal Government Information Sources
- State and Local Employees: Portal on USA.gov with many links useful to local government officials
- Government Stats: Data and statistics about the US
- Project Vote Smart: Aids for voters
- Executive Branch – Agencies
- Information & Resources
Sample Ordinances
- Town Plan Commission Sample Ordinance and Notes, 2001 (PDF)
- Updates to Town Plan Commission Sample Ordinance, 2008 (PDF)
