Wis. Stat. § 59.25 — WI Code / Chapter 59 / Section 59.25
Treasurer.
Status: in_force

(1) Eligibility. No person holding the office of sheriff, undersheriff, circuit judge, district attorney, clerk of the circuit court, clerk or member of the board shall be eligible to the office of treasurer or deputy treasurer.

(2) Deputies; oath; salary; temporary vacancy.

(a) The treasurer shall appoint one deputy to aid the treasurer, under the treasurer’s direction, in the discharge of the duties of the office of treasurer. The appointment shall be in writing and shall be filed and recorded in the treasurer’s office. Such deputy, in the absence of the treasurer from the treasurer’s office or in case of a vacancy in said office or any disability of the treasurer to perform the duties of the office of treasurer, unless another is appointed therefor as provided in par. (b) , shall perform all of the duties of the office of treasurer until such vacancy is filled or such disability is removed. The person so appointed shall take and file the official oath. The person shall file his or her appointment with the clerk. The board may, at its annual meeting or at any special meeting, provide a salary for the deputy.

(b) If any treasurer is incapable of discharging the duties of the office of treasurer, the board may, if it sees fit, appoint a person treasurer who shall serve until such disability is removed. A person so appointed or appointed to fill a vacancy in the office of treasurer, upon giving an official bond with like sureties as are required of such treasurer, shall perform all the duties of such office, and thereupon the powers and duties of any deputy performing the duties of the last treasurer shall cease.

(3) Duties. The treasurer shall do all of the following:

(a)

1. Receive all moneys from all sources belonging to the county, and all other moneys which by statute or county ordinance are directed to be paid to the treasurer, and, except in counties having a population of 750,000 or more, in the case of the payment of delinquent property taxes or the redemption of land subject to a tax certificate, make out and deliver to the clerk duplicate receipts therefor, and file in the treasurer’s office the duplicate receipts delivered to the treasurer by the clerk for money received by the clerk.

2. In counties having a population of 750,000 or more, file a duplicate receipt in the treasurer’s office.

(b) Pay out all moneys belonging to the county only on the order of the board, signed by the clerk and countersigned by the chairperson, except when special provision for the payment thereof is otherwise made by law; and, except in counties having a population of 750,000 or more, pay out all moneys belonging to the county road and bridge fund on the written order of the county commissioner of highways, signed by the clerk and countersigned by the chairperson of the board.

(c) Pay all county orders described in par. (b) in the order of time in which they are presented for payment; but where 2 or more are presented at the same time, give precedence to the order of the oldest date, but the treasurer shall receive of municipal treasurers all county orders issued in the county, which the municipal treasurers may present in payment of county taxes, to the amount of the county taxes actually collected by any municipal treasurer in the year for which the orders are offered in payment, which amount shall be determined by the affidavit of the municipal treasurer.

(d) Keep a true and correct account of the receipt and expenditure of all moneys which come into the treasurer’s hands by virtue of the treasurer’s office in books kept therefor, specifying the date of every receipt or payment, the person from or to whom the same was received or paid, and the purpose of each particular receipt or payment; keep also in like manner a separate account of all fees received, a separate account of all moneys received for taxes, and a separate account of money received upon redemption of lands from sales thereof for nonpayment of taxes, further specifying in the 2 last accounts the description of the property on account of which such money was paid, which books shall be open at all times to the inspection of the board or any member thereof and to all county and state officers; make in writing a fully itemized statement and report, verified by the treasurer’s oath, to the board on the first day of the annual board meeting and at such other times as the board directs, of all moneys of whatever nature received and disbursed by the county treasurer; exhibit the treasurer’s vouchers therefor to be audited and allowed, and settle with the board the treasurer’s accounts as treasurer; and exhibit to the board all moneys in the custody or control of the treasurer as treasurer, and, if required, make oath that such moneys are the funds of the county.

(e) Annually by March 15, furnish to the department of revenue all of the following:

1. The completed tax roll settlement sheets prescribed under s. 70.09 (3) .

2. The complete county tax roll, as that term is used in s. 70.65 , in a form and manner prescribed by the department.

(f)

1. Except as provided in subd. 2. , transmit to the secretary of administration at the time required by law to pay the state taxes a particular statement, certified by the county treasurer’s personal signature affixed or attached thereto, of all moneys received by him or her during the preceding year and which are payable to the secretary of administration for licenses, fines, forfeitures, or on any other account, and at the same time pay to the secretary of administration the amount thereof after deducting the legal fees.

2. For all court imposed fines and forfeitures, plus costs, fees, and surcharges imposed under ch. 814 , required by law to be deposited in the state treasury, transmit to the secretary of administration a statement of all moneys required by law to be paid on the actions entered during the preceding month on or before the first day of the next succeeding month, certified by the county treasurer’s personal signature affixed or attached thereto, and at the same time pay to the secretary of administration the amount of the money transmitted.

(g) Deposit all moneys for jail assessments received under s. 302.46 (1) in a county jail fund and make payments from the fund for purposes of s. 302.46 (2) on order of the board under par. (b) .

(gm) Deposit all moneys received under s. 973.0455 (2) into a crime prevention fund and, on order of the crime board under s. 59.54 (28) (d) , make grant payments as the crime board directs.

(h) Cause to be insured, when directed by the board, at the expense of the county, the county buildings or any of them in the name of the county; and, in case of loss, demand and receive the money due on account of such insurance for the use of the county; and all such money shall be applied to rebuilding or repairing such county buildings.

(i) Make annually, on the 3rd Monday of March, a certified statement, and forward the statement to each municipal clerk in the county, showing the amount of money paid from the county treasury during the year next preceding to each municipal treasurer in the county. The statement shall specify the date of each payment, the amount thereof and the account upon which the payment was made.

(j)

1. Retain all of the following for fees in receiving and paying into the state treasury all money received by the treasurer for the state for fines and forfeitures:

a. Except as provided in subd. 1. b. and c. , 10 percent of the state forfeitures and fines.

b. For a treasurer in a county other than Milwaukee County, 50 percent of the state forfeitures and fines under chs. 341 to 347 , 349 , and 351 .

c. For a treasurer in Milwaukee County, 100 percent of the state forfeitures and fines under chs. 341 to 347 , 349 , and 351 .

2. Retain the other fees for receiving and paying money into the state treasury that are prescribed by law.

(k) Forward 40 percent of the state forfeitures and fines under ch. 348 to the secretary of administration for deposit in the transportation fund under s. 25.40 (1) (ig) .

(L) Forward all money received under s. 66.0114 (3) (c) to the secretary of administration for deposit in the transportation fund under s. 25.40 (1) (ig) .

(m) Forward 50 percent of the fees received under s. 351.07 (1g) to the secretary of administration for deposit in the transportation fund under s. 25.40 (1) (im) .

(n) Make and deliver to any person, for a fee that is set by the board under s. 19.35 (3) , a certified copy or transcript of any book, record, account, file or paper in his or her office or any certificate which by law is declared to be evidence.

(o) On the first day of each month pay into the county treasury the fees received by the treasurer.

(p) Pay to the secretary of administration on his or her order the state percentage of fees received from the clerk of the circuit court under s. 59.40 (2) (m) and if any such moneys remain in his or her hands when he or she is required to pay the state percentage of fees, pay such moneys therewith to the secretary of administration.

(q) Perform all other duties required of the treasurer by law.

(s) Exercise any investment authority delegated to the treasurer by the board under s. 59.62 .

(t) Notify municipalities of payments made under ss. 74.29 and 79.10 in respect to property tax levies originally certified to the municipality for collection.

History: 1995 a. 201 ss. 266 , 267 , 269 , 270 , 284 ; 1995 a. 225 ss. 151 to 153 ; 1995 a. 227 s. 202 ; 1995 a. 269 s. 2 ; 1995 a. 408 s. 1 ; 1995 a. 448 s. 60 ; 1997 a. 27 , 35 , 135 , 211 , 237 , 248 ; 1999 a. 9 , 32 , 74 ; 1999 a. 150 s. 672 ; 2001 a. 16 ; 2001 a. 30 s. 108 ; 2001 a. 56 , 105 ; 2003 a. 33 , 139 , 326 ; 2013 a. 20 ; 2015 a. 55 ; 2017 a. 150 ; 2017 a. 207 s. 5 ; 2021 a. 1 , 55 ; 2025 a. 15 .