Wisconsin § 59.08 - Consolidation of counties; procedure; referendum.

§ 59.08. Consolidation of counties; procedure; referendum.

59.08(1) (1) Any 2 or more adjoining counties may consolidate into a single county by complying with the requirements and procedure herein specified. 59.08(2) (2) The boards of any 2 or more adjoining counties desiring to consolidate their respective counties into a single county may enter into a joint agreement for the consolidation of the counties, setting forth in the consolidation agreement all of the following: 59.08(2)(a) (a) The names of the several counties which they propose to be consolidated. 59.08(2)(b) (b) The name under which it is proposed to consolidate the counties, which name shall be such as to distinguish it from the name of any other county in Wisconsin, other than the consolidating counties. 59.08(2)(c) (c) The property, real and personal, belonging to each county, and the current fair market value thereof. 59.08(2)(d) (d) The indebtedness, bonded and otherwise, of each county. 59.08(2)(e) (e) The proposed name and location of the county seat of the consolidated county. 59.08(2)(f) (f) If the counties have different forms of county organization and government, the proposed form of county organization and government of the consolidated county. 59.08(2)(g) (g) The terms of agreement. 59.08(3) (3) The board of each county may appoint an advisory committee composed of 3 persons to assist the board in the preparation of the agreement. 59.08(4) (4) The original of the consolidation agreement, together with a petition on behalf of the several boards, signed by the chairperson of each of the boards, asking that a referendum on the question of consolidation of the several counties be ordered, shall be filed with the clerk of the circuit court of one of the counties and a copy of the consolidation agreement and of the petition shall be filed with the clerk of the circuit court of each of the other counties. 59.08(5) (5) The qualified electors of each county involved in the consolidation proposal whose board has not taken the initiative under sub. (2) may, by filing with the board a petition conforming to the requirements of s.