Responsibilities and Impact
As one of Wisconsin's constitutional statewide officers, the Treasurer:
- Promotes the state’s unclaimed property program in order to return thousands of dollars to Wisconsin taxpayers
- Works on improving fiscal responbility in the State
- Helps direct constituents with questions and concerns to the proper agency
- Serves on the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands (BCPL):
- Manages a $1.4 billion trust fund and about 77,000 acres of public lands
- Annually disburses money back into public schools to fund books and technology (2022 annual disbursement totaled $40.6 million)
- Invests in Wisconsin communities for projects in economic development and infrastructure
History of the State Treasurer's Office
Established in 1848 by the Wisconsin Constitution, the State Treasurer is one of Wisconsin’s five statewide constitutional officers. The office was first imagined by the state’s founders as a check on the government’s financial decisions and a steward of its public lands. Throughout the years, the Office has evolved significantly. Until 1995, the OST safeguarded state securities purchased by the State of Wisconsin Investment Board, and, most notably, in 2003 all cash management responsibilities were taken from the OST. Over the last 25 years, the duties of the office have changed with the times but the mission remains the same. Although the job description has changed, Treasurer Leiber is firmly committed to focusing the duties of his office.
Treasurer Leiber being sworn into office by Chief Justice Ziegler on January 3, 2023.
