(1) In this section “amortization fund” means the public debt amortization fund established under this section and “commission” means the public debt commission created under section 5 of chapter 87, laws of 1861. In every 1st class city, however incorporated and indebted on account of outstanding municipal bonds, a fund separate and distinct from every other fund and designated as the “Public Debt Amortization Fund” is established. Sources of the fund shall be: (a) All interest on moneys in the city treasury or which may accrue to the city treasury as interest earned on cash advanced for funding street improvements or delayed special assessments. (b) Beginning on January 1, 1973, except interest which is received by the city as a part of the aggregate amounts from the sale of capital assets, one-third of all interest money received by the city treasury on any invested city funds and one-third of all interest received by the city treasury on any other funds to the interest of which the city is entitled including one-third of all interest received on delinquent personal property taxes. (c) All other moneys from any source as the common council may by resolution by a two-thirds vote direct to be paid into the fund. (d) Moneys received by gift or bequest to the fund, except that as a condition precedent to the acceptance of any such gift or bequest, the city shall enter into a contract to be executed by the proper city officers and custodians of the fund with the donor of such gift, or the heirs of any testator making such bequest. In the contract the city and the custodians of the fund shall in consideration of the gift or bequest bind themselves and their successors in office to keep the fund intact forever, except that the fund may be used as provided under this section. The contract shall be for the express benefit of the donor, the donor’s heirs and assigns, the heirs and assigns of the testator, and every taxpayer in the city. (2) The proper city officers shall segregate annually from the general fund and other funds of the city the moneys under sub. (1) (a) to (d) and credit the moneys to the amortization fund. (3) The amortization fund may not be considered an offset to the constitutional debt limit. (4) The commission shall be custodian of the amortization fund subject to the provisions of this chapter. (5) All necessary work incident to the administration of the amortization fund shall be done by the city comptroller’s office. (6) Expenses incident to the administration of the amortization fund shall be paid from the amortization fund. (7) The secretary of the commission shall keep a record of all proceedings relating to the amortization fund, and an accurate account of transactions, investments, earnings and expenditures and shall make a report annually on or about September 30 of each year to the common council, and shall permit examination of the accounts and records by any person. (8) The amortization fund shall be audited annually as part of the annual independent audit of the city’s financial records. The commission shall provide annually an independent certified audit of the amortization fund. (9) The commission shall, when necessary, demand and enforce by proper proceeding the appropriation, segregation and payment of any amortization moneys due under this section. (10) Disbursements, investments, sale or transfer of securities in the amortization fund shall be by resolution of the commission by majority vote on checks signed by the chairperson of the commission and the city treasurer and countersigned by the city comptroller. (11) (a) The commission shall cause the proper officer to invest the amortization fund or part thereof as it accrues in any of the following: 1. City bonds, notes, and other securities. 2. Bonds or securities or other evidences of indebtedness of the United States. 3. Bonds or securities of any instrumentality of the United States or agency thereof if the indebtedness and interest are guaranteed by the United States either primarily or secondarily. 4. Certificates of time deposit. 5. Bonds which are the general obligations of cities or other municipal subdivisions of this state after the bonds have been approved as to the regularity of their issue by the city attorney of the city. 6. Tax certificates of the city or of the county in which the city is located. 7. Securities of the city whether a direct obligation thereof or not secured by such tax certificates. (b) The commission shall cause the proper officer to sell, dispose of, or exchange securities in which the amortization fund is invested and to reinvest the proceeds thereof in any other security enumerated under par. (a). If the investment is in tax certificates of the city or county, the city treasurer, commissioner of assessments and such other city officers and employees as the commission may require for the prudent selection, protection and enforcement of the investment shall serve the commission. The time limitations for all actions, proceedings and applications for tax deeds upon such certificates shall be the same as the time limitations applicable to certificates owned or held by the city. (12) All interest earned by the amortization fund on its investments shall, when it accrues, be added to the fund to augment the fund for the purposes for which the fund is provided. (13) If the total of principal and accrued interest in the amortization fund is substantially equal to the outstanding general obligation bonds or notes of the city, the fund shall be applied to pay the interest on any outstanding general obligation bonds or notes of the city, and to meet the annual payments on the principal of the debt until maturity thereof. The commission may at any time apply the fund to pay interest on and principal of, or to acquire for cancellation, general obligation bonds or notes of the city except that: (a) The amount of the fund applied may not exceed in any one year 40 percent of the balance in the fund on the preceding December 31. (b) The prices of the acquired bonds or notes may not exceed principal plus accrued interest to date of maturity. (c) The commission may not decrease the fund below $2,000,000 as a result of purchases and cancellations under this subsection. (14) Nothing in this section may be construed to amend, abolish or take the place of any other sinking fund provided by statute.
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