Most town electors’ meetings set to take place next Tuesday

Electors in Wisconsin towns can take part in their upcoming annual meetings, with many slated for Tuesday, April 21. These meetings give electors of a town the chance to exercise their powers directly.

According to information from the Wisconsin Towns Association, unlike towns, village, city, county, and state governments act solely through elected representatives. In Wisconsin, town electors may exercise their unique powers via an annual town meeting, or at special town meetings called for specific purposes.

There are limits to what business can be conducted at these meetings, but electors are able to make important decisions such as levying taxes to be spent by the town, as well as fixing compensation for town offices, combining certain town offices, and increasing the size of the town board for populations of 2,500 or greater. Other powers are also granted at these meetings including purchasing land for town purposes and disposing of town real property.

The towns association notes that while town board members attend the town meeting, it is not a meeting of the governing body, and is not covered under the Wisconsin Open Meetings Law.

Set by state statutes, these meetings generally take place the third Tuesday in April at the town hall or wherever regular town board meetings are held. Towns can change the date of their meeting to be held within 10 days of the third Tuesday in April, but must post changes for the public. Meetings held on the statute date do not have to be posted.

Start times can vary and those interested in attending should check with their local clerks for more information.