WI Land Information Program
What is the Wisconsin Land Information Program?
The Wisconsin Land Information Program (WLIP), administered by the Division of Intergovernmental Relations within the Department of Administration (DOA), provides over $9 million annually in public funding to Wisconsin counties for the modernization of local land records. This funding takes the form of Register of Deeds real estate document recording fees retained at the county level and grants awarded by DOA. All 72 counties participate in the WLIP. Requirements of the WLIP include appointing a Land Information Officer and establishing a County Land Information Council, and regularly submitting a variety of GIS and tax records to the State. The program is currently governed by WI State Statutes 16.967 and 59.72, as well as Administrative Rule Chapter Adm. 47.
What is the Land Records Modernization Plan?
According to WI State Statutes 59.72(5)(b)(3) and Administrative Rule 47.06(3), counties must spend Wisconsin Land Information Program funding (both fees retained and grants) received consistent with its county Land Records Modernization Plan. The plan prioritizes how grant and retained fees are to be spent every year. The focus of the plan is on land information which is essential to county operations. A countywide land information system supports economic development, emergency planning and response, and a host of citizen services. Just a few of these functions include: access to tax/assessment data and accurate mapping of land descriptions, scanning and providing digital access to documents stored at the register of deeds, addressing properties to be used for emergency management, and hosting a robust website to allow citizens access to land records. Beginning in 2015, Counties are required to update their plan every three years.
Who is responsible for the Land Information Modernization Plan Update and who decides how the funding is spent?
In order to comply with WI State Statutes 59.72(3m), the County must establish a Land Information Council and the council must meet at least once a year. The council is responsible for approving the land info plan update as well as providing oversight for the expenditures, policies, and priorities of the Land Information Dept. By statue the Council must consist of the following:
- Register of Deeds
- Treasurer
- Real Property Lister
- Member of the County Board
- Land Information Officer or member of the Land Information Office
- A realtor or member of the Realtors Association employed within the county
- A public safety or emergency communications representative employed within the county
- A County Surveyor or a registered professional land surveyor employed within the county
- Other members of the board or public that the board designates (examples: Zoning Administrator or Highway Commissioner)
What is the definition of "Land Information"?
Any physical, legal, economic or environmental information or characteristics concerning land, water, groundwater, subsurface resources or air in this state. ‘Land information’ includes information relating to topography, soil, soil erosion, geology, minerals, vegetation, land cover, wildlife, associated natural resources, land ownership, land use, land use controls and restrictions, jurisdictional boundaries, tax assessment, land value, land survey records and references, geodetic control networks, aerial photographs, maps, planimetric data, remote sensing data, historic and prehistoric sites and economic projections.
– Wis. Stats. section 16.967(1)(b)
