Incorporation Referendum
On August 14, 2020, Outagamie County Judge John A. Des Jardins officially ordered the Town of Greenville incorporation referendum question to be placed on the November 3, 2020 General Election ballot.
The fate of the incorporation effort now lies with the voters in the incorporating area. Should a majority of the voters decide to vote in favor of incorporating into a village, the incorporation will be final. Should a majority of voters decide to vote against incorporating into a village, the Town of Greenville will remain unincorporated and be subject to annexations.
The following question will appear on the November 3, 2020 General Election for voters living within the proposed village:
Should a portion of lands of the Town of Greenville consisting of lands located west of Mayflower Road; south of County Trunk Highway JJ; north of County Trunk Highway BB; east of State Trunk Highway 76 (CTH BB to STH 96), east of Julius Drive (STH 96 to STH 15) and east of North Road (STH 15 to CTH JJ) be incorporated into a village?
____ For a village.
____Against a village.
Why Incorporate the Town?
The primary reason to incorporate into a village is to protect the municipal borders from annexation by other incorporated municipalities, the Town’s tax base can be eroded through annexations; however, once incorporated, the newly incorporated village’s lands would no longer be subject to annexation.
What is Incorporation?
Municipal incorporation is the process of creating new villages and cities from town territory. It is regulated under Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 66 General Municipality Law (s. 66.0201).
Will Taxes Increase as a Village?
No, taxes will not increase because of incorporation.
Tax rates are established based upon the service level requested by the taxpayers, and the total valuation of the Town. The Town presently maintains a service level necessary for incorporation; hence, no additional services will be required because of incorporation.
Furthermore, State law only allows a municipality to increase its levy over the amount it levied in the prior year by the percentage increase in equalized value from net new construction. If no new construction occurs, then the allowable levy increase is zero. This law applies to counties, cities, villages and towns.
What will happen to the remaining Town?
If the east side of Greenville incorporates then the west side of town will initially remain the Town of Greenville.
The plan proposed by the Incorporation Review Ad Hoc Committee suggests the east side of Greenville should incorporate first, and then reunite with the west side through annexation or through the attachment process with a border agreement. This action would be similar to incorporation of the Village of Harrison and Village of Fox Crossing. This process will take a few months after a successful referendum.
If incorporation occurs, who will provide municipal services for the residents and businesses residing in the new village and the remaining Town?
Upon incorporation the new village and the remaining Town will continue all municipal services as if no change had occurred. The new village Board and new Town Board would enter into an intergovernmental agreement to provide joint services to continue the present service levels to both the new village and the remaining Town until such time as the new village and remaining Town can reunite through the annexation or attachment process.
What are the PROS for Incorporation?
- Protection of Greenville Borders
- Preservation of Current & all Future Tax Base
- Zoning Authority Including Shoreland Zoning
- Extra Territorial Authority
- Land Division Autonomy
- Complete Village Powers
- Bonding Authority (Better Interest Rates on GO Debt)
- Improved Credit Ratings & Grant Funding
- Direct Legislation Authority
What are the CONS against Incorporation?
- Elimination of Town Meeting:
- Direct Authority to Raise Money; Levy Taxes
- Fix the Compensation of Elected Officials
- Establish Appointed Positions of Clerk, Treasurer, Assessor, Constable and/or Administrator
- Adopting a Plan to Elect Town Supervisors to Numbered Seats
- Authority to Fund Private Enterprise without Elector Approval
Where can I find more information?
Updates to the incorporation process will be posted on our website as they become available: http://townofgreenville.com/our_community/incorporation.php
