1. Presented By: Jason Grueneberg President of the Wisconsin Land Information Association Planner/Land Information Officer, Wood County Planning & Zoning Office Past President of the Wisconsin Land Information Officers Network Growing Wisconsin GIS NSGIC Annual Conference September 25, 2007

2. Wisconsin Land Information Program2 The Wisconsin Land Information Program WLIP ► Mid 1980’s - The need to do something with land records identified.  Lack of accessibility to records – proprietary records limit public access  Not available comprehensively  Cannot be duplicated  Cannot be aggregated  Redundancy and inefficiency in maintenance  Institutional reluctance to share ► Program started in 1989 by Act 31 of the Wisconsin State Legislature. ► Program administered by the Department of Administration. Until 2 years ago, the Wisconsin Land Information Board provided oversight for the program. ► Over the years the program has changed many times…usually as a result of state politics and budgeting. ► The focus of WLIP has been modernization of Land Records. Emphasis on GIS has been increasing over recent years. ► Focus over the years has shifted as technology has improved and local efforts have advanced.

3. Wisconsin Land Information Program3 Who is participating in the WLIP? ► All 72 counties participate in the Wisconsin Land Information Program.

4. Wisconsin Land Information Program4 WLIP Requirements State Statute 19.967 and Admin. Rule 47 ► Have a designated Land Information Officer ► Complete an annual survey ► Update the county land information plan ► Complete any grant and reporting requirements ► Accountable for proper expenditure of WLIP funds

5. Wisconsin Land Information Program5 County Land Information Officers ► Every county has 1 person designated as the Land Information Officer (LIO). ► LIO’s have a variety of professional backgrounds. ► LIO’s serve to coordinate how program funds are spent to modernize county land records. ► LIO’s are part of the Land Information Officers Network (LION).

6. Wisconsin Land Information Program6 Funding ► The WLIP is funded by county register of deeds offices. ► Statewide recording fees are $11 for the first page of every document recorded. Real Property Listers of Wisconsin

7. Wisconsin Land Information Program7 Document Recording Fees $4 County Register of Deeds $4 County Land Records Modernization $1 County Land Records Modernization - Improving Internet Access to Housing Records $2 State of Wisconsin - Department of Administration ____ $11 Document Recording Fee

8. Wisconsin Land Information Program8 Grants ► Currently Available  Base Budget Grants – Eligibility if your WLIP retained fees are below $50,000  Annual Training Grant – Amount locked by State Statute to $300 per county ► Potentially Available  Contribution-Based Grants – Non-competative grants based on the number of documents your county records  Strategic Initiative Grants – Funding targeted towards specific modernization projects

9. Wisconsin Land Information Program9 County Program Funding Example ► Wood County – Population 75,555 (2000 Census)  Documents recorded per year ► Average year - 17,136 = $85,680 ► Highest year 2003 - 24,956 ► Lowest year 1991 - 12,537  Calendar Year 2005 – 16,770 Documents Recorded $11 Register of Deeds Recording Fee ► $11 x 16,770 = $184,470 Collected by County Register of Deeds  16,770 x $4 = $67,080 Register of Deeds  16,770 x $4 = $67,080 Wood County Land Records Office  16,770 x $1 = $16,770 Wood County Land Records Office  16,770 x $2 = $33,540 State of Wisconsin, DOA

10. Wisconsin Land Information Program10 State Funding Example ► Wisconsin Population - 5,363,675 (2000 Census)  Fiscal Year 2005 – 1,606,453 Documents Recorded - $11 Register of Deeds Recording Fee ► $11 x 1,606,453 = $17,670,983 Collected by County Register of Deeds Offices in State  1,606,453 x $4 = $6,425,812 County Register of Deeds  1,606,453 x $4 = $6,425,812 County Land Records Offices  1,606,453 x $1 = $1,606,453 County Land Records Offices  1,606,453 x $2 = $3,212,906 State of Wisconsin

11. Wisconsin Land Information Program11 How Funds Were Spent in 2005 ► $3,212,906 State of Wisconsin  $21,600 training and education grants for counties  $741,912 base budget awards for counties  $35,000 strategic initiative grants  $2,000,000 comprehensive planning grants  $213,104 program administration by Wisconsin Department of Administration  $222,890 not allocated – in FY 2006 lapsed to state budget

12. Wisconsin Land Information Program12 How do counties fund their Land Records Modernization Activities? ► Separate budget for land records modernization activities. ► Some use only WLIP funds. In some cases they carry over funds year to year. ► Some use tax levy in addition to program money to fund their efforts. ► Charging for data and services. Many records are freely available as open records, but value-added products and services can be sold.

13. Wisconsin Land Information Program13 County Use of WLIP Funds As a general rule eligible purchases 1. Are directly related to the modernization of land records. 2. Are to some degree included in the county land information plan. Examples of how $ is spent by counties. ► Office space. ► Computer equipment. Document scanners, GPS, large format printing equipment. ► Professional Services – Aerial photography, data creation, collection and maintenance. ► Staff – GIS Specialist, limited term employees, and interns. ► Software – GIS and document imaging software.

14. Wisconsin Land Information Program14 WLIP Success Story Wood County, WI ► Funding  85% funded by the WLIP  Leverage existing county resources  Average “Land Records Modernization Budget” of $80,000 to $100,000 ► Annually Fund  Hardware upgrades and software maintenance  1 full time staff person  GIS interns  Office space  Fund larger projects as able ► County Department Involvement  Land Conservation  Emergency Management  Register of Deeds  County Treasurer  Real Property Lister  Sheriff’s Department  Dispatch  Park & Forestry  Health Department  Highway Department  Planning & Zoning

15. Wisconsin Land Information Program15 ► Notable accomplishments  Development of High Precision Geodetic Network  Collected GPS coordinates on about 95% section corners  Implementation of document imaging in the county Register of Deeds Office  Development and maintain numerous base layers for the county ► Parcel Mapping ► Street Centerline ► Building numbers ► Land Use ► Parks and trails ► Acquisition of orthophotography every 5 years  Parcel mapping and other information on free web site www.co.wood.wi.us www.co.wood.wi.us  Phase II wireless dispatch mapping  GIS as a decision making tool  Ability to accommodate wide variety of mapping and data requests ► Data and Mapping - What can customers expect  Data on request - $7.50 or free  Custom mapping for a fee - $31.50 per hour or free ► Collaborative Efforts  Informal sharing of data with local, state, and federal agencies  Provide mapping data and services for local units of government in the county  Work with District DNR and DOT on regular basis  Work with the Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitor’s Bureau to develop County mapping and promotional material WLIP Success Story – Cont.

16. Wisconsin Land Information Program16 Culture of Grassroots GIS Challenges ► Consistency - Inconsistent products and services across the state. ► Policy - Different local policies on data sharing and distribution. ► Varying Standards – Tendency to gravitate towards what meets local needs. ► Data Sharing - Vertical and horizontal data sharing is challenging. ► Equitable Benefits? - WLIP has been perceived as county-centric. ► Progress - Challenging to track statewide progress.

17. Wisconsin Land Information Program17 Culture of Grassroots GIS Benefits ► Local Buy-in - Strong local knowledge, passion and support of geospatial technology. Program is 15 years old and there is strong local use, dependency, and advocacy. ► Useful Products and Services - Grassroots geospatial advancements create products and services that meet immediate local needs. ► Quality - Potential for higher accuracy and quality of data. ► Stability - Very resilient and able to endure changing political climate and economic/budgeting challenges. ► Strong Professional Network – Powerful network of geospatial professionals in the state. Wisconsin is equipped to handle future challenges.

18. Wisconsin Land Information Program18 Why has WLIP been a success? ► Funding mechanism that is reliable and relatively constant ► Grassroots approach has produced useful local products and services = strong local buy-in and support ► Overwhelming support of the WLIP beyond counties from  Wisconsin Education Institutions – UW, State Cartographer’s Office  Private sector  Wisconsin Land Information Association  Land Information Officers Network  Other professional organizations  Support of local, state, and federal government stakeholders. ► Political advocacy over the years has been strong…and critical ► Communication with oversight body of WLIP ► Acceptance of the grassroots GIS culture in the State ► The many dedicated individuals that have gone above and beyond in their support and confidence of the WLIP ► Contributed to statewide advancement.

19. Wisconsin Land Information Program19 What does the future hold? ► We now have a State GIO Position ► Implementation of Wisconsin’s Strategic Plan for GIS ► Creation of a Wisconsin Geographic Information Coordinating Council (WIGICC) ► More consortia and collaboration projects = cost savings ► Expectation of vertical and horizontal data sharing – sign of stakeholders maturing ► WLIP has built solid foundation for GIS and land records modernization to build off of. Potential to reinvigorate program ► There will need to be more players, programs and funding mechanisms to implement Wisconsin’s Strategic Plan for GIS ► WI State Cartographer’s Office will continue to play key role ► WLIA – 20 year old professional organization of 500 strong ► NSGIC will be more influential on geospatial advancement in WI

20. Wisconsin Land Information Program20 Thank You!!! Enjoy your time in Wisconsin!!! Questions ? Wisconsin Land Information Association www.wlia.org www.wlia.org Land Information Officers Network (LION) www.wlion.org www.wlion.org Wood County Wisconsin www.co.wood.wi.us www.co.wood.wi.us Wisconsin State Cartographer’s Office www.sco.wisc.edu www.sco.wisc.edu Jason Grueneberg jgrueneberg@co.wood.wi.us 715-421-8478