COUNTY CLERK

Joan C. Rennert, County Clerk

OPERATING AUTHORITY AND PURPOSE

The County Clerk is the official clerk of the Racine County Board. All County Board minutes and original copies of ordinances, resolutions, and contracts are maintained in the County Clerk’s Office. The Clerk is responsible for publishing County Board minutes and all official notices in the newspaper. After adoption of the county budget, the County Clerk apportions the state, county, library, and handicapped school taxes to each of Racine County’s municipalities. The County Clerk co-signs all contracts and agreements authorized by the County Board.

In addition, the County Clerk issues marriage licenses, distributes dog licenses to the municipalities for the state, acts as an agent in issuing passports, and acts as an agent for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in the sale of hunting and fishing licenses.

The County Clerk is responsible for conducting all federal, state and countywide elections, which includes preparing ballots, publishing notices, collecting reports from all candidates, and acting as head of the Board of Canvassers after each election.

EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE MEASURES

This office saved postage and printing costs by e-mailing information to County Board Supervisors and Municipal Clerks. The office also assisted the County Board in publication cost savings.

2005 GOALS AND BUDGET STRATEGIES

Continue to provide efficient, friendly and quality service to the public.
Work to reduce publication costs of election notices and legal notices.
Work with the County Board, municipal clerks, and other department heads to save money through innovative cost-saving measures.
Continue to work with municipalities to explore ways of providing better service to the public at a lower cost.
Work to reduce the number of hard copy documents produced and distributed by the office.