SERVING ON THE DODGE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Dodge County is a body corporate of the State of Wisconsin. Dodge County is governed by the County Board of Supervisors (commonly called “County Board”). Dodge County has 33 Supervisors and the voters in each district elect one Supervisor to serve on the County Board.
Elections are the first Tuesday in April of even numbered years; the term of office begins on the third Tuesday of that April and continues until a newly elected Board is seated two years later. The position of Supervisor is nonpartisan representing an average of 2,709 residents in the district. To be elected as a Supervisor, a candidate must be 18 years of age or older, be a resident of the supervisory district within which they are a candidate at the time election papers are taken out, and not have any felony convictions.
Supervisors are expected to attend monthly meetings of the County Board and meetings of committees to which they are assigned. In most months, the County Board meeting is held on the 3rd Tuesday beginning at 6 p.m. The April and November meetings are held during the day beginning at 9 a.m. The November meeting is the Annual Budget meeting and is held on the Tuesday after the second Monday of November. The 2023 November meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 14th. County Supervisors are elected or appointed by the County Board, its Chairperson, or the County Administrator to serve on a number of committees/commissions of the Board.
Activities include:
- Reading and preparing for meetings
- Participating in the process of debate and voting on proposed ordinances, resolutions and motions in County Board and Committee meetings
- Providing oversight and advice to the management of the County regarding delivery of
- County services while refraining from the delivery, management or administration of daily operations of the County
- Being responsive to the needs of their constituents through effective communication
- Talking with department heads about departmental issues
- Establishing priorities for the delivery of County services through the annual budget and tax levy; and involvement in community life.
When the newly elected County Board holds its organizational meeting, one of its first assignments is the election of a County Board Chairperson. The Chair is one of the 33 Supervisors but takes on the additional duties and responsibilities following his/her election to the
position as county government’s chief elected official. The Chair has an office located on the first floor of the Administration Building.
At the organizational meeting the County Board also elects a 1st Vice Chairperson, 2nd Vice Chairperson and additional members to the Executive Committee. Most other assignments for County Board Supervisors are made by appointments of the Chair or Administrator to go into effect
May 1st.
County Board members receive a per diem of $60 per meeting. Supervisors are eligible for mileage reimbursement at the rate allowed by the Internal Revenue Service in determining business mileage. The 2026 rate is .725/mile. The County Board Chairperson receives a salary of $12,000 per year plus per diem. Non-committee member supervisors shall also be entitled to a per diem and mileage for attendance at up to an additional 8 meetings per session.
