OUR STORY
Supporting Wisconsin Municipalities Since 1987
WMMIC was forged during the municipal insurance crisis in the mid-1980’s and has provided steadfast support, coverage, and training to our membership ever since. Born out of a need for affordable, comprehensive coverage, WMMIC has evolved to become a trusted partner in insurance, loss control, and risk management, offering unique programs that better serve cities, counties, and special districts in Wisconsin.
A Quick Municipal Insurance History
Up until 1985, most of our founding membership had coverage through commercial insurers. The insurance industry was experiencing a particularly soft cycle between the late 70’s and mid 80’s, leading to decreased premiums and increased municipal buy-in. However, those lower premiums and coverages would soon end. By 1984, all municipal coverages were either reduced to bare minimums or cancelled altogether, leaving Wisconsin municipalities vulnerable.
Wisconsin Law Grants Authority to Organize Municipal Insurance Companies
Prior to the low premiums of the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, the State of Wisconsin created a law allowing the official organization of municipal mutual insurance companies. Because premiums from commercial insurers were competitive at the time, municipalities had no need to come together. But after those commercial insurers either pulled out of the market, or increased premiums dramatically, ten municipalities in Wisconsin came together to form WMMIC.
Meet Our Founding Members
This group of counties banded together in November of 1987 to found WMMIC, signing the Intergovernmental Charter Contracts pursuant to Wis Stats. Secs. 66.30 and 611.11(4).
- Brown County
- Chippewa County
- Dodge County
- La Crosse County
- Manitowoc County
- Outagamie County
- St. Croix County
- Waukesha County
- City of La Crosse
- City of Madison
Pursuing Innovation & Unmatched Protection
1990’s
By 1990 WMMIC had hired its first Executive Director and started refining and evolving our value proposition. First by being recognized by PRIMA’s Pooling Section for being in compliance with their advisory standards. Then WMMIC joined the Association of Governmental Risk Pools.
2000’s
By the early 2000s, WMMIC strategically joined Government Entities Mutual (GEM), and started working with special districts and added Dane, Kenosha, and Marathon counties as the 11th, 12th, and 13th members.
2010’s
By 2010, WMMIC gained three more new members – Rock, Walworth, and Jefferson Counties and received recognition for compliance by AGRiP Advisory Standards. WMMIC also initiated our first comprehensive jail risk assessment program.
Present
Since then, we’ve been adding new trainings and resources to better serve our members, including on-site and online customizable safety, HR, protective services, and risk management topics.
Giving Back to Our Members
In order to better serve our member cities, counties, and special districts, we’ve developed superior claims management support with a team of claim experts in liability, and workers’ compensation. We work to meet our members unique needs and pursue positive outcomes, saving time, resources, and money so they can focus on their numerous other responsibilities.
We also developed our exclusive Partnership Program, offering reimbursement for loss control and risk management initiatives like:
- Contracted Training
- Contracted Services
- Equipment Purchases
- Health & Wellness
- Internal Trainings & Materials
- Outreach Programs
- Rewards & Recognition
- Professional Development
- Accreditations, Memberships, Fees
Looking Towards a Bright Future, Together
At WMMIC, we believe we are stronger together, and have made it our mission to be subject matter experts on insurance, coverage, loss control, and risk management for cities, counties, and special districts. Our members actively participate in the direction of WMMIC and we work collaboratively to guide our future. We are committed to finding new and innovative ways to meet the needs of our members while keeping premiums stable. WMMIC is member-owned, member-governed, and member-focused, and as stewards of the resources entrusted to us, we will always do what is best for the membership.
