Wisconsin Voters Say 'Yes' To Keeping State Treasurer

MILWAUKEE COUNTY, WI — Voters in Wisconsin roundly rejected abolishing the State Treasurer position - a role that has been a part of the state government since 1848. Slightly more than 60 percent of Wisconsin voters chose "NO" on a ballot measure that would have abolished the State Treasurer position during spring elections Tuesday.

The ballot measure was put on Tuesday's ballot after it passed through the State Legislature during two consecutive sessions. Republicans carried the bill by more than 90 percent during both sessions.

State Treasurer Amendment
No 514,264 61%
Yes 322,823 39%
Total 837,087

(83 percent of precincts reporting)

The ballot measure was as follows:

Elimination of state treasurer. Shall sections 1 and 3 of article VI and sections 7 and 8 of article X of the constitution be amended, and section 17 of article XIV of the constitution be created, to eliminate the office of state treasurer from the constitution and to replace the state treasurer with the lieutenant governor as a member of the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands?

Over the years, the treasurer's duties have been transferred to different parts of the administration which were led by secretaries appointed by Gov. Scott Walker.

According to Ballotpedia, voting "YES" to eliminate the Treasurer position would have transferred the treasurer’s one remaining constitutional duty—to sit on the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands—to the lieutenant governor.

Supporters said abolishing the State Treasurer position would save taxpayers the $227,000 biannual cost of running the office. Tuesday's result means the next treasurer will be voted into a 4-year term this November.

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