Who must file a conflict of interest disclosure?

City elected officials, appointed board and commission members, and certain employees or contractors where the ordinance requires disclosure; check the municipal code for defined roles and thresholds.

How do I report a suspected violation?

Submit a written complaint and any supporting evidence to the office named in the ordinance or to the City Clerk for referral; consult the City Clerk for submission details.

What penalties can I expect for a violation?

Potential sanctions include administrative orders, removal from boards, referral to court, or monetary fines where authorized; the cited municipal page does not list fixed fine amounts.

Madison Conflict of Interest Reporting & Disclosure

General Governance and Administration Wisconsin 4 Minutes Read · published February 09, 2026

In Madison, Wisconsin, public officials, board members and certain city contractors must follow conflict of interest and disclosure rules set out in the municipal code and related city filing rules. This guide explains where the city’s rules are published, who enforces them, how to report a potential conflict, and practical steps to comply with disclosure requirements. It focuses on Madison municipal processes and forms, and points to the official city code for the controlling text.^[1]

Scope and Who Must Report

Madison’s municipal ordinances and implementing policies apply to elected officials, appointed board and commission members, and designated city employees or contractors. The specific duties to disclose financial interests or to recuse from decisions typically depend on the office, the nature of the decision, and whether a personal or financial interest exists; consult the ordinance text for the precise definitions and thresholds.^[1]

If in doubt, file a written disclosure with the City Clerk to create an official record.

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement is carried out under the municipal code and by the offices the code designates; penalties and remedies vary by section and may include monetary fines, orders to cease participation, removal from boards, and referral to courts or other authorities. Where the municipal code or implementing pages do not list monetary amounts or escalation schemes explicitly, the page is noted as not specifying those figures.

Fines: not specified on the cited page; consult the ordinance text for any fixed amounts or schedules.^[1]
Escalation: first, repeat, and continuing offences and their scaled penalties are not specified on the cited page; the ordinance may allow escalating remedies.^[1]
Non-monetary sanctions: orders to recuse, administrative orders, removal from appointed positions, or referral to court can be used under the municipal authority as provided in the code.^[1]
Enforcer: the City Clerk, City Attorney, or a designated ethics or oversight board typically handles complaints and enforcement processes; contact details are in the Help and Support section below.
How to complain or report: file a written complaint with the City Clerk or submit evidence to the office listed in the relevant ordinance; see official filing instructions for the applicable board or office.^[1]
Appeals and review: appeal routes and statutory time limits depend on the ordinance or administrative rule cited; specific appeal deadlines are not specified on the cited page and may be set in the ordinance or related procedure documents.^[1]

Applications & Forms

The municipal code references disclosure obligations; filing formats and any required forms (for example, statements of economic interest) are published or administered by the City Clerk when provided. A specific city form number, fee, or a published deadline is not specified on the cited municipal code page; check the City Clerk’s filings page for any current form and submission method.^[1]

Common Violations

Participating in a vote where the official has an undisclosed financial interest.
Failing to file a required disclosure or filing an incomplete statement.
Accepting gifts or contracts that create an appearance of impropriety without proper recusal or disclosure.

Timely written disclosure reduces enforcement risk and creates an official record.

Practical Steps to Report or Comply

Identify the controlling ordinance section in the municipal code and read the defined terms and duties.^[1]
Contact the City Clerk or designated office for the official filing form or instructions.
File a written disclosure or recusal statement before participating in the relevant decision.
If you believe a violation occurred, submit a written complaint with supporting evidence to the office named in the ordinance.

Keep copies of all disclosures and correspondence for at least the period stated in the records-retention policy.

FAQ

Who must file a conflict of interest disclosure?: City elected officials, appointed board and commission members, and certain employees or contractors where the ordinance requires disclosure; check the municipal code for defined roles and thresholds.^[1]
How do I report a suspected violation?: Submit a written complaint and any supporting evidence to the office named in the ordinance or to the City Clerk for referral; consult the City Clerk for submission details.
What penalties can I expect for a violation?: Potential sanctions include administrative orders, removal from boards, referral to court, or monetary fines where authorized; the cited municipal page does not list fixed fine amounts.^[1]

How-To

Locate the relevant Madison municipal ordinance section covering conflicts of interest and disclosures.^[1]
Contact the City Clerk to request any official disclosure form or filing instructions.
Prepare a clear written disclosure describing the nature of the interest, parties involved, and the agenda item or decision.
File the disclosure with the City Clerk and provide copies to the relevant board chair or staff as required.
If you believe a violation occurred, file a written complaint with supporting documents to the office designated by the ordinance.

Key Takeaways

When unsure, disclose early and in writing to create an official record.
Enforcement and appeal procedures are governed by the municipal code; check the ordinance text.

Help and Support / Resources

[1] City of Madison Code of Ordinances - Municode