Sanitary Maintenance Assessment Fee.
Since 2000 Wisconsin State law has required counties to maintain a database of all private sanitary systems in their county and to require them to be inspected and/or pumped. The State does not provide funding to the County to do this work. Therefore:
Pursuant to Ordinance No. 3-2026, adopted by the Langlade County Board of Supervisors on 3/23/2026, Langlade County will begin assessing an annual fee for Private On-site Wastewater Treatment System (POWTS) maintenance recordkeeping, effective immediately. The fee will not exceed $15.00 per system per year and will be charged on property tax bills issued at the end of 2026.
If you have any questions reguarding this fee please refer below to our FAQ.
If you do not find an answer to your question please reach out via email: sanitarymaintenance@co.langlade.wi.us
or our sanitary maintenance fee help line: 715-627-6311 Ext.
Please allow 24-48 hours for a response during regular business hours.
FAQ
Why does the State require a sanitary maintenance program?
Wisconsin residents have placed a high value on the protection of their health and safety and the protection of our surface and groundwater. Failing systems can result in contaminated drinking water affecting not only current and future owners, but the surrounding community. This program helps to identify sanitary systems that are not functioning correctly.
Why is this fee being charged now?
Counties have been imposing this special charge for the costs of maintaining the POWTS inventory for some time now. Langlade County has been attempting to cover the costs of this unfunded state mandate for the last 25 years but given budget limits – we now need to consider other sources of revenue. This fee can only be used to offset the County’s costs of maintaining and tracking the POWTS inventory – meaning that we can only charge for those costs that are not covered by other dedicated funding, such that if the State decided to fund this mandate, then we would no longer be collecting this fee.
Why is this a separate charge and not property tax?
Property taxes are applied to everyone, even those who do not receive this service. By applying this fee as a special charge, it can be targeted to apply only to those that receive the state-mandated service.
How is the fee amount determined?
Rather than setting the fee at an exact number in ordinance, which would either over or under charge, the fee was given a ceiling ($15.00) and is set up to be reviewed annually by the Water & Land Use Planning Committee to ensure the amount billed to the taxpayer is as close as possible to the actual cost. The 2026 fee has been set at $13.75 per system.
What happens if someone doesn’t pay?
Wisconsin law requires that special assessments be paid first when taxes are paid. If your total payment is less than the total tax bill, your property taxes will be unpaid by that amount. This unpaid balance will accrue interest and be subject to any penalties or forfeitures allowed by law.
What if I don’t use my system?
Lack of use doesn’t eliminate the county’s obligation to track a system’s maintenance. If a system exists and can be used, the county must maintain records for it. You do have the option to abandone that system, which would require it to be filled in or crushed. If you would like to explore
that option please contact our office for further direction.
What if I believe the amount of systems listed for my property is incorrect?
If you believe the number of systems on your property is incorrect please use the email or phone number listed above.
include in your message the property address and parcel number and how many systems it says you have and how many you believe you have.
We will look into it and get back to you.
Please let as know as soon as possible. If corrections are not made before 9/1/26 you will be charged
for the systems we have on record.
Since 2000 Wisconsin State law has required counties to maintain a database of all private sanitary systems in their county and to require them to be inspected and/or pumped. The State does not provide funding to the County to do this work. Therefore:
Pursuant to Ordinance No. 3-2026, adopted by the Langlade County Board of Supervisors on 3/23/2026, Langlade County will begin assessing an annual fee for Private On-site Wastewater Treatment System (POWTS) maintenance recordkeeping, effective immediately. The fee will not exceed $15.00 per system per year and will be charged on property tax bills issued at the end of 2026.
If you have any questions reguarding this fee please refer below to our FAQ.
If you do not find an answer to your question please reach out via email: sanitarymaintenance@co.langlade.wi.us
or our sanitary maintenance fee help line: 715-627-6311 Ext.
Please allow 24-48 hours for a response during regular business hours.
FAQ
Why does the State require a sanitary maintenance program?
Wisconsin residents have placed a high value on the protection of their health and safety and the protection of our surface and groundwater. Failing systems can result in contaminated drinking water affecting not only current and future owners, but the surrounding community. This program helps to identify sanitary systems that are not functioning correctly.
Why is this fee being charged now?
Counties have been imposing this special charge for the costs of maintaining the POWTS inventory for some time now. Langlade County has been attempting to cover the costs of this unfunded state mandate for the last 25 years but given budget limits – we now need to consider other sources of revenue. This fee can only be used to offset the County’s costs of maintaining and tracking the POWTS inventory – meaning that we can only charge for those costs that are not covered by other dedicated funding, such that if the State decided to fund this mandate, then we would no longer be collecting this fee.
Why is this a separate charge and not property tax?
Property taxes are applied to everyone, even those who do not receive this service. By applying this fee as a special charge, it can be targeted to apply only to those that receive the state-mandated service.
How is the fee amount determined?
Rather than setting the fee at an exact number in ordinance, which would either over or under charge, the fee was given a ceiling ($15.00) and is set up to be reviewed annually by the Water & Land Use Planning Committee to ensure the amount billed to the taxpayer is as close as possible to the actual cost. The 2026 fee has been set at $13.75 per system.
What happens if someone doesn’t pay?
Wisconsin law requires that special assessments be paid first when taxes are paid. If your total payment is less than the total tax bill, your property taxes will be unpaid by that amount. This unpaid balance will accrue interest and be subject to any penalties or forfeitures allowed by law.
What if I don’t use my system?
Lack of use doesn’t eliminate the county’s obligation to track a system’s maintenance. If a system exists and can be used, the county must maintain records for it. You do have the option to abandone that system, which would require it to be filled in or crushed. If you would like to explore
that option please contact our office for further direction.
What if I believe the amount of systems listed for my property is incorrect?
If you believe the number of systems on your property is incorrect please use the email or phone number listed above.
include in your message the property address and parcel number and how many systems it says you have and how many you believe you have.
We will look into it and get back to you.
Please let as know as soon as possible. If corrections are not made before 9/1/26 you will be charged
for the systems we have on record.