The Waukesha Taxpayers League has initiated a referendum to reduce the size of the Waukesha County Board to a more reasonable numbers than the current 35 supervisors. Governor Doyle recently signed a piece of legislation that allows counties to reduce the size of the board a second time between censuses. County Executive Vrakas has proposed reducing the County Board to either 25 or 19 via a vote by the Waukesha County Board. To date, there are not enough votes within the County Board for either proposal, nor can we confirm enough votes to sustain a veto by County Executive Dan Vrakas.

The new legislation also allows citizens to petition to go to referendum to reduce the county board. We have researched this option because we do not believe that the board will vote to reduce its numbers--other than a token two or four to stop the community from going to referendum. We have contacted current and former county supervisors and it is evident that the board can be reduced substantially. By law and their own policies, the board exists to oversee the budget and to set policy, not micro-manage, and we firmly believe that it doesn't take 35 supervisors to do that.

While state law allows the citizens to petition to go to referendum, it also allows the board to take a vote while signatures are being gathered. This vote can take place at a regularly scheduled meeting or at a special meeting scheduled with minimal notice by the Board Chairman. The only thing that can stop the board from voting to reduce its size marginally is the acceptance and verification of 10,800 signatures by the County Clerk. Time is of essence.

Please support us in our attempt to collect the needed signatures. Only through your effort can we exercise our democracy and have direct input into the future of County Government.

		FAQ			Petition Form
		Presentation			Petition Instructions