Wisconsin Statutes
Wis. Stat. § 59.79 (2026)
Milwaukee County
✓ laws through the 2025-26 session (checked Sept. 2026)
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59.79(1)(1) Housing facilities. Build, furnish and rent housing facilities to residents of the county. Such a county may borrow money or accept grants from the federal government for or in aid of any project to build, furnish and rent such housing facilities, to take over any federal lands and to such ends enter into such contracts, mortgages, trust indentures, leases or other agreements as the federal government may require. It is the intent of this subsection to authorize such a county to do anything necessary to secure the financial aid and the cooperation of the federal government in any undertaking by the county authorized by this subsection, including the authority to provide housing subsidies or allowances by participation in federal government housing programs.
59.79(2)(2) Intergovernmental committees; appropriation. Appropriate money to defray the expenses of any intergovernmental committee organized in the county with participation by the board to study countywide governmental problems, and make recommendations thereon. All items of expense paid out of the appropriations shall be presented on vouchers signed by the chairperson and secretary of the intergovernmental committee.
59.79(3)(3) Transportation studies. Undertake the necessary studies and planning, alone or with other urban planning activities, to determine the total transportation needs of the county areas; to formulate a program for the most efficient and economical coordination, integration and joint use of all existing transportation facilities; and to study the interrelationship between metropolitan county area growth and the establishment of various transportation systems for such area in order to promote the most comprehensive planning and development of both. In pursuance of such undertaking the board may employ the services of consultants to furnish surveys and plans, and may appropriate funds for the payment of the cost of such work and the hiring of consultants.
59.79(5)(5) Fee for certain marriage ceremonies. Enact an ordinance imposing a fee to be paid in advance to the clerk for each marriage ceremony performed by a judge or a circuit or supplemental court commissioner specified in s. 765.16 (1m) (e) in the courthouse, safety building, or children’s court center during hours when any office in those public buildings is open for the transaction of business. The amount of the fee shall be determined by the board.
59.79(7)(a)(a) Contract with the state to use and pay reasonable charges for the use of all or a portion of the parking facility authorized under s. 13.485 and to guaranty all or a portion of the debt service for revenue obligations issued under s. 13.485 as compensation for benefits to be derived by the county and the public from the facility funded by the issuance.
59.79(7)(b)(b) Take any action that is necessary to facilitate contracting with the state under par. (a), including the levying of any direct annual tax for that purpose.
59.79(8)(8) Contractual personnel services. Enter into a contract for a period not to exceed 2 years for the services of retired county employees, provided such services shall not replace or duplicate an existing office or position in the classified or unclassified service nor be considered an office or position under s. 63.03.
59.79(10)(10) County hospital. Determine policy for the operation, maintenance and improvement of the county hospital under s. 49.71 (2) and, notwithstanding the powers and duties specified under s. 46.21 (2) (k), (3r) and (6) with respect to the county hospital and the administrator and specified under s. 46.21 (2) (b), (L), (m), (n), (nm), (o), (p) and (q) and (3g), provide for the management of the county hospital as the board considers appropriate, except that the employee positions at the hospital will be county employee positions. If the board acts under this subsection, the board may not discontinue operation, maintenance and improvement of the county hospital under s. 49.71 (2) and shall exercise the duties under s. 46.21 (4m). This subsection does not apply if the board acts under s. 46.21 with respect to the county hospital under s. 49.71 (2).
59.79 HistoryHistory: 1995 a. 201 ss. 137, 164, 166, 168, 170, 184, 189, 194 to 196, 223, 225, 235, 236, 431, 454; 1999 a. 9, 83; 2001 a. 61; 2007 a. 63; 2013 a. 4 s. 2; 2013 a. 14, 372; 2017 a. 207 s. 5.
59.79 AnnotationMilwaukee County has authority to acquire vacant land on the open market and to resell it at a reduced price to private parties under a contract of sale that requires purchasers to build low-income and middle-income housing, especially for persons displaced by expressway construction. 60 Atty. Gen. 242.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4
cases, 1934–1977 · leading case: Armes v. Kenosha Cnty., 260 N.W.2d 515 (Wis. 1977).
Armes v. Kenosha Cnty., 260 N.W.2d 515 (Wis. 1977). “Sec. 59.79, Stats. The statute authorizes the board to examine and settle all claims against the county; the board may allow the claim or disallow the claim in whole or part.”
Rabe v. Outagamie Cnty., 241 N.W.2d 428 (Wis. 1976). “Section 59.79. Finally, the legislative history again indicates that an unanswered claimant must wait until the adjournment of the current session before bringing suit.”
Colburn v. Ozaukee Cnty., 159 N.W.2d 33 (Wis. 1968). “(Sec. 59.79, Stats., requires the county clerk to “lay before” the board, at the first meeting possible, any sec.”
State v. Bennett, 252 N.W. 298 (Wis. 1934). “Dolen, supra, the public services which were the basis of the claimed right for the extra compensation which was involved in that action, were rendered for the county by a claimant who was a member of the county board, and as such required by sec. 59.79, Stats., to act in his…”
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