Legislation up for consideration in Wisconsin looks to make it easier for towns in the state to legally change their municipal status to avoid being annexed. The bill hopes to reduce the amount of cross-town border disputes incited by annexations.
"As more Wisconsin towns consider becoming villages as a way to protect their borders from unwanted annexations, legislation has been introduced that would make it easier for large, prosperous towns to get that legal protection."
"Known as the 'charter towns bill,' the legislation introduced recently by Sen. Neal Kedzie (R-Town of La Grange) would exempt towns that meet certain requirements from city and village annexation powers, thus giving them permanent boundaries."
"That is usually the main reason towns want to incorporate as villages. Under Wisconsin law, village and city territory may not be annexed by neighboring communities without their agreement, while towns have almost no legal power to stop annexations."
Read the full story: Bill aims to strengthen town lines
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