• Supporting research related to groundwater drawdowns and withdrawals through the Water Resources Institute.
We hope you will find this report to be a useful reference in protecting Wisconsin's valuable groundwater resource.
Sincerely,
todd ambs
Chair, Groundwater Coordinating Council
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
August 31, 2004
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We have completed financial audits of the Mendota and Winnebago Mental Health Institutes for the period July 1, 2002, through June 30, 2003. The audits were requested by the Department of Health and Family Services to comply with requirements of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. We were able to express an unqualified opinion on each Institute's financial statements.
The Institutes reported mixed financial results for fiscal year (FY) 2002-2003. Mendota reported a gain of $1.4 million in net assets, while Winnebago reported a loss of $1.8 million in net assets. Winnebago sustained a loss because it did not generate enough revenue to cover its expenses. However, each Institute continued to report a positive accounting balance, which is reflected in its financial statements as unrestricted net assets.
S853
During the course of our audits, we found the Department's treatment of collections received on behalf of state-funded patients, which were primarily forensic patients, was not in compliance with s.20.435(2)(gk), Wis. Stats., which requires that these funds be treated as general purpose revenue (GPR)-earned. Relying on only s.20.001(4), Wis. Stats. which defines GPR-earned, the Department retained $815,000 of the $2.3 million received in FY 2001-02 and $759,000 of the $2.1 million received in FY 2002-2003 for operation of the Institutes. The Department has, however, agreed to properly treat all collections received on behalf of state-funded patients as GPR-earned in FY 2003-04 and in the future.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by Department of Health and Family Services staff during our audit.
Sincerely,
janice Mueller
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
August 31, 2004
The Honorable, The Legislature:
The Wisconsin Land Council (WLC) and the Wisconsin Land Information Board (WLIB) submit the attached Report to the Governor and Legislature in compliance with the provisions of S.S.
16.023(2), Wis. Stats., and
2003 Act 33, Section
2809.
Our report strongly supports continuation of the Wisconsin Land Information Program. Every Wisconsin citizen has benefited from this program through more modern and accessible land records. The digitization of land information enables the public and all levels of government to make informed decisions using standardized, reliable data.
The report also recommends support for the Comprehensive Planning Grant Program. About 645 local governments -- or one-third of all counties and municipalities --are using this state resource to support local planning decisions. This will continue to be a critical resource as additional communities prepare for growth and future service needs.
We also recognize the Governor's and Legislature's desire to reduce the size of State Government. To that end, the report calls for the sunset of the WLC and the WLIB. Instead, we recommend using existing structures to support the land information and comprehensive planning grant programs.
The WLC and WLIB appreciate this opportunity to report on activities and recommend future directions. We ask that you consider our comments as you develop land information and planning policies.
Sincerely,
Mayor Timothy M. Hanna, Chair
Wisconsin Land Council
Ted W. Koch, Chair
Wisconsin Land Information Board
State of Wisconsin
Ethics Board
August 31, 2004
The Honorable, The Senate:
The following lobbyists have been authorized to act on behalf of the organizations set opposite their names.
For more detailed information about these lobbyists and organizations and a complete list of organizations and people authorized to lobby the 2003 session of the legislature, visit the Ethics Board's web site at
http://ethics.state.wi.us
Ebbott, John Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc
Petkovich, Vlado HNTB
Petrovic, Milan HNTB
Rongstad, Deedee Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc
Turney, Susan Wisconsin Medical Society
Also available from the Wisconsin Ethics Board are reports identifying the amount and value of time state agencies have
spent to affect legislative action and reports of expenditures for lobbying activities filed by organizations that employ lobbyists.
Sincerely,
R. Roth Judd
Director
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
August 24, 2004
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint L. Van De Hey, Ron ,
of Kaukauna, as a member of the Fox River Navigational System Authority, to serve the term ending July 1, 2008.
Sincerely,
JIM DOYLE
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Environment and Natural Resources.
__________________
Relating to supervised pre-certification and pre-licensure social work.
Submitted by Department of Regulation and Licensing.
Report received from Agency, August 31, 2004.
Referred to committee on Health, Children, Families, Aging and Long Term Care, September 1, 2004.
Relating to Wisconsin interstate fuel tax and international registration program.
Submitted by Department of Transportation.
Report received from Agency, August 26, 2004.
Referred to committee on Transportation and Information Infrastructure, September 1, 2004.
Relating to child labor.
Submitted by Department of Workforce Development .
Report received from Agency, August 31, 2004.
Referred to committee on Labor, Small Business Development and Consumer Affairs, September 1, 2004.
Relating to admission time for national examinations and post graduate training permits.
Submitted by Department of Regulation and Licensing.
Report received from Agency, August 31, 2004.
Referred to committee on Agriculture, Financial Institutions and Insurance, September 1, 2004.
Relating to the agricultural chemical and household hazardous waste collection ("clean sweep") grant program.
Submitted by Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Report received from Agency, August 31, 2004.
Referred to committee on Agriculture, Financial Institutions and Insurance, September 1, 2004.
Relating to alcohol and drug counseling.
Submitted by Department of Regulation and Licensing.
Report received from Agency, August 31, 2004.
