- Where can I see the "Lake District 101" discussion guide that was referenced at LWIA meetings? You can access a PDF of the discussion guide right here. 

- What’s a “Lake District”? A special unit of government with elected leaders, annual budgets funded from tax or other special fees, designed to deal with lake management issues. Chapter 33 of the Wisconsin State Statutes was passed in ‘74 to provide for the formation of lake districts. Since then, hundreds of lake districts have been established in the state of Wisconsin.

- What’s a Lake District’s purpose? To protect, rehabilitate and improve lakes. They were created to give citizens the legal authority to work on lake management issues, and the ability to levy special taxes or fees to be used toward lake management How’s a Lake District formed? They’re established by local town, county, city or village boards. These boards typically establish a district based on a formal petition of lake area owners. There are actually several ways a lake district can be formed, including: By landowner petition to a county or town board. By resolution of a city council or village board.  At least 51% of the landowners, or the owners of at least 51% of the land in the proposed district, must be included when petitioning the county or town board. For example, the WCC, LWIA and IPOA – separate, voluntary groups – would work together to obtain signatures to petitions from property owners to form the district. If more than 51% of landowners were in favor, those petitions would be presented to the Town Board to vote to establish the district.

- Who’s included in a Lake District? The creators of the lake district proposal would also propose its boundaries. The county, town, city or village board then formally adopts the district boundaries. Typically, lake district boundaries include the shoreline property owners (“riparian” owners) but can also include off-lake properties that benefit from the lake or affect the lake’s watershed. In short, if you are a resident or property owner within a lake district’s boundary, you are legally part of the district, able to participate in its meetings, qualify to serve on its Board of Commissioners, and subject to its decisions.

- How’s a Lake District financed? Lake districts collect fees from taxpayers to fund its operations and projects in several ways. All property that’s subject to general property taxes, and is within a lake district’s boundary, is taxable by the lake district. This tax, called a mill levy, is used to fund most general lake district activities. The mill levy, which appears on property tax bills, may not exceed the rate of 2.5 mills, which is $2.50 per $1,000 of property value, and is often much less. As special units of government under Wisconsin law, lake districts are able to levy special charges to pay for activities with temporary benefits to individual properties or special assessments for major projects. Examples of these special or major projects include shoreline aquatic plant harvesting and algae control. Special fees are collected directly by the lake district commission, not placed on property tax bills.

- Who runs a Lake District? You do: that is, if you live in or own property within a lake district boundary. A lake district is run like any democracy. Residents and all property owners within the district have a vote in the affairs of the district. By voting, residents and property owners elect commissioners as leaders who identify management strategies for the district and present them to residents and property owners of the district for authorization to implement. Typically, a board made up of five to seven commissioners carries out a lake district’s day-to-day activities. The Board of Commissioners is subject to the decisions of the residents and property owners at the annual meeting. The commissioners must meet at least quarterly and follow Wisconsin’s Open Meetings Law. The Board of Commissioners handles the day-to-day business of the district including: managing the district’s budget, maintaining working relations and cooperation with government and agency officials, as well as developing plans, goals, and objectives for the protection and rehabilitation of the lake.

- What can a Lake District do? Lake districts lead activities enhancing the quality of life for residents and property owners through lake protection and rehabilitation. Lake districts operate a variety of lake management activities including: evaluating lake management issues, developing long range lake management plans, monitoring water quality, carrying out surveys and studies, managing aquatic plants, accepting grants and state aid, purchasing or holding property, and helping other units of local government develop land use laws and guidelines.

- What's the budget for the average Wisconsin Lake District? Existing and new lake districts often wonder what their fellow districts are doing to raise funds. Districts have a range of options available to them, from the general property tax levy, to special assessments and charges, to borrowing and fundraisers. There is no central office in Wisconsin that compiles lake district budget information, however UW-Extension Lakes periodically surveys lake organizations to learn more about their operations. Currently they only have budget data on a little over half of lake districts (113); the other half may have no budget (indicating that they are largely dormant) or they have not sent updated budget information. For the districts that do report, more than half (65) report annual budgets under $25,000.

For additional information visit Wisconsin Association of Lakes
Learn more about forming a Lake District
Learn more about operating a Lake District