Wisconsin Fund Program

 

Grant Fund Application (pdf, 132k) | Administrative Fee Agreement (pdf, 45k)

 

WHEN:

Individuals or companies having to replace a Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (POWTS) that was installed and in use prior to July 1, 1978 that meet a specific category of failure and do not exceed the maximum allowable adjusted gross income limits.

 

WHY:

To assist with the cost of replacing a Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment System that does not meet the minimum required code standards as specified in State of Wisconsin Administrative Code.

 

HOW:

You must meet the criteria as specified below to apply to determine eligibility for partial replacement POWTS funding.

Procedures

Kenosha County makes application on behalf of the citizens of the county to the State of Wisconsin. The following information needs to be submitted to the county in order to apply:

  • Individual application form completed by the owner.
  • Complete copy of Federal Income Tax Form for the year of, or prior to, the county enforcement/determination date. If you do not file because of low income, then an affidavit must be completed – available from the county by request.
  • Enforcement orders written by county or documentation of failure prior to sanitary permit issuance. This can be done as part of the application process by the County.
  • Issued sanitary permit for the proposed replacement system.
  • Payment of $200 county application fee – to be paid at the time of application. This fee can be waived if the owner signs a post-payment agreement with the county at the time of application. The County prefers you sign the waiver.

 

Private Sewage System Grant Program Information

Realizing the need for financial incentive to make the state's waters suitable for fishing and swimming, the Wisconsin Legislature created the Wisconsin Fund in 1978.

 

Funding Status

Available grant monies and the existence of this program is evaluated every 2 years as part of the State of Wisconsin biennial budget proceedings.

 

Eligibility Requirements

Enforcement Orders On A Failing System - Orders to replace or the documentation of a failing septic system must be made in writing by the Kenosha County Sanitarian prior to the issuance of a sanitary permit. Documentation of failure can be in the form of field notes by the County Santarian.

Definition Of A Failing Septic System - Failing conditions are placed into three (3) categories:

  • Category 1: Systems that fail by the discharge of sewage to surface water, groundwater, zones of seasonal saturation, drain tiles, or zones of bedrock.
  • Category 2: Systems that fail by discharge of sewage to the surface of the ground.
  • Category 3: Systems that fail by causing the back up of sewage into the structure served.

NOTE: A system failing only in Category 3 IS NOT eligible to receive funds. If the applicant intentionally caused the system to fail from Categories 1 and 2, the application must be denied.

 

Principal Residence

The applicant is eligible for a grant in this category if they own and occupy the residence with a failing system at least 51% of the year. Rental housing units no longer qualify as principal residences. Residences owned by a trust or life estate may be eligible if the dwelling is occupied at least 51% of the year by the owner of the life estate or trustee of the trust.

 

Age Of Failing System

The failing system servicing the residence or small commercial establishment must have been constructed and in use prior to July 1, 1978.

 


Sewage Flow Limit For A Small Commercial Establishment

In order to qualify under this category, the daily wastewater flow must be less than 5,000 gallons per day as determined from the design criteria of the state plumbing code. A farm including the residence could be considered a small commercial establishment provided the residence is occupied by a person who is an operator of the farm.

 

Application Time Period

A property owner must apply to the county for a grant within the three-year period after the enforcement order or the determination of failure is established. However, once application is made, the applicant has only one opportunity for funding.

 

Income Eligibility

Annual family income of the person who owns the principal residence may not exceed $45,000. Properties held in a trust or in a life estate must include the annual family income of only the owner(s) of the life estate or trustee of the trust and not beneficiaries.

Annual family income is based upon the 'adjusted gross income of the owner and the owner's spouse, if any, as computed for Federal income tax purposes for the year of or prior to the enforcement or determination of failure date. This amount is listed as the Adjusted Gross Income, as found on your Federal income tax report.

The applicant who owns a small commercial establishment may not exceed $362,500.00 in annual gross revenues for that business.

Income information supplied by the applicant is now verified by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.

 

Additional Information

Application Deadlines - All applications must be submitted to the county. All applications must be complete with all attachments received by January 28th.

Allocation and Prorating of Grant Funds - Distribution of grant funds will be based on the maximum amount requested on the application. If funds are insufficient to fully fund all grants, then the county is required to prorate grant funds in the following manner:

  1. If funds are sufficient to fully fund all Category 1, but not all Category 2, failing private sewage systems, the state will fund all Category 1 systems fully and prorate funds for Category 2 systems.
  2. If funds are not sufficient to fully fund all Category 1 systems, then the state will fund only Category 1 systems on a prorated scale and deny grant funds to Category 2 systems.

Unfunded applications are no longer carried over to the next fiscal year. An applicant who receives a prorated grant, or is denied because of insufficient funds, may not reapply and has no opportunity to receive additional funds.


Grant Amount Reduction - When an eligible grant applicant's income exceeds $32,000.00 but is less than $45,000 the reduction in the grant award is determined using 30 percent of the difference between the annual income and the $32,000.00 amount which is then subtracted from the grant amount as determined from the grant worksheet. This calculation could result in a significant reduction of your grant award and may "zero-out" any grant money you may be eligible to receive.

Maximum Grant Fund Amounts - Based on flat rate tables with maximum grant awards being $7,000.00 or the flat rate table amount, whichever is less. The flat rate tables were developed using the average costs of systems installed under the Wisconsin Fund Grant Program statewide. No grant award is allowed to exceed 60% of actual cost of a system. In those cases the grant award will be 60% of the actual installed cost as per paid invoices and cancelled checks.

 

Real Estate Transactions

If the property in question was involved in a change of ownership which prompted the replacement of the septic system, the eligible applicant must provide a copy of the closing statement of the transaction and proof that the applicant was occupying the residence with the failing system prior to issuance of the sanitary permit. Only the individual paying for the installation of the system is eligible to apply. The applicant may need to complete an affidavit of residency available from this office.

 

Replacement of a Structure

An owner may replace the structure served by a failing system and be eligible for a grant to upgrade the existing system. Some specific circumstances must exist for an owner to be eligible such as; age of the original building owned and occupied by the applicant at the time of failure, determination of failure prior to construction of the new building, and the new residence must be constructed in a location that would be accessible to the failing private sewage system. If the original structure was destroyed or rendered uninhabitable because of a storm or fire, the determination of failure may be made up to 6 months after the building was last occupied.

 

Eligibility To Receive Payment

A property owner is eligible to receive a grant award when:

  1. The project in question has been determined eligible by the State of Wisconsin.
  2. The grant application which their project is on has received a grant offer, and it has been determined that there are sufficient funds available to fund that particular project.
  3. Construction of the replacement system is complete and done according to approved plans and Comm 383.
  4. The owner has paid in full for the construction. The applicant is required to provide proof of payment and/or an itemized invoice marked "PAID IN FULL" and signed by the installer.
  5. The owner has paid to the county the required $200 administration fee.

 

Timetable Of Procedure For A Payment Request

Kenosha County generally receives a grant award in May and begins making payment requests in June. Actual payment to property owners would begin in July. Pay out to the property owners is not immediate, because the county makes requests for several property owners at one time, and this request goes through an audit procedure by the State Bureau of Finance.

If you are interested in applying for, or have questions concerning the Wisconsin Fund Program, please contact:

KENOSHA COUNTY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
Kenosha County Center
19600 75th Street (U.S.H. 45 AND S.T.H. 50)
Post Office Box 520
Bristol, Wisconsin 53104-0520
(262) 857-1985

Revised 01/2012