Madison, WI 53708
Dear Mr. Fuller:
Please add me as a co-sponsor of Assembly Bill 683.
Sincerely,
barb gronemus
State Representative
91st Assembly District
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Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
September 21, 2005
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
We have completed financial audits of Mendota and Winnebago Mental Health Institutes for the period July 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004. 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.
Mendota and Winnebago Mental Health Institutes are licensed and accredited hospitals that provide specialized diagnostic, evaluation, and treatment services for mentally ill children and adults. The Institutes also provide services to forensic patients referred to them through the criminal justice system. The Institutes are funded through a mix of general purpose revenue and program revenue. Each has experienced a decline in average daily population from fiscal year (FY) 2001-02 through FY 2003-04.
Each Institute reported a small financial gain for FY 2003-04. Mendota reported a gain of almost $90,000 in net assets, and Winnebago reported a gain of more than $54,000. Further, each Institute reported a positive accounting balance, which is reflected in its financial statements as unrestricted net assets.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by Department of Health and Family Services staff during our audit.
Respectfully submitted,
janice mueller
State Auditor
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State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
September 22, 2005
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
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As requested by the Public Service Commission (PSC), we have completed a financial audit of the Universal Service Fund, which was established to ensure that all state residents receive essential telecommunications services and have access to advanced telecommunications capabilities. It is funded primarily through assessments on telecommunications providers, which totaled $25.5 million in fiscal year (FY) 2003-04. Our audit report contains our unqualified opinion on the Universal Service Fund's financial statements for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2003 and 2004.
The largest program supported by the Universal Service Fund is the Educational Telecommunications Access Program, which is administered by the Department of Administration. This program subsidizes new and existing data lines and video links to eligible educational institutions. In FY 2003-04, expenditures for these activities totaled $12.7 million, or 54.2 percent of the Universal Service Fund's total expenditures and transfers. In January 2006, a new statewide data and video network is expected to be available to program participants, as well as to the State and other public-sector users.
Eight of the 13 programs supported by the Universal Service Fund are operated by the PSC. As we reported in past audits, expenditures for PSC-operated programs were significantly less than budgeted for several years. The Legislature subsequently limited the amount of assessments to support the PSC-operated programs to $5.0 million in FY 2003-04 and $6.0 million in FY 2004-05 and thereafter. However, increasing expenditures are now presenting budgetary challenges for these programs. In response, the PSC reduced benefits and deferred certain payment requests to subsequent fiscal years. If the growth in program demand and expenditures continues, the Legislature may be asked to reconsider the statutory limits on the PSC's annual assessment levels.
Funds are transferred annually to the Department of Public Instruction for the Newsline program, which provides sight-impaired individuals access to newspapers read over the telephone. We found that a balance of almost $165,000 has accumulated for the program. The PSC does not plan to provide additional funds to the program until the balance has been substantially reduced.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by staff at the PSC, the departments of Administration and Public Instruction, and the Universal Service Fund's administrator, Wipfli LLP.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice mueller
State Auditor
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Representative Vrakas asked unanimous consent for a leave of absence for part of today's session for Representative Suder. Granted.
Representative Turner asked unanimous consent for a leave of absence for part of today's session for Representatives Sinicki and A. Williams. Granted.
Representative Huebsch asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Joint Resolution 51 be withdrawn from the committee on Rules and taken up at this time. Granted.
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Special Guest
Representative Kestell introduced the family of former State Representative Wilfrid Turba, who addressed the members from the rostrum.
Assembly Joint Resolution 51
Relating to: the life and public service of Wilfrid J. Turba.
The question was: Shall Assembly Joint Resolution
51 be adopted?
Motion carried.
Representative Huebsch asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Joint Resolution 51 be immediately messaged to the Senate. Granted.
Representative Petrowski asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Joint Resolution 50 be withdrawn from the committee on Rules and taken up at this time. Granted.
Assembly Joint Resolution 50
Relating to: proclaiming October Wisconsin Kids Voting USA month.
The question was: Shall Assembly Joint Resolution
50 be adopted?
Motion carried.
Representative Huebsch asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Joint Resolution 50 be immediately messaged to the Senate. Granted.
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Representative Vrakas asked unanimous consent that the Assembly stand recessed. Granted.
The Assembly stood recessed.
10:05 A.M.
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12:45 P.M.
The Assembly reconvened.
Speaker Pro Tempore Freese in the chair.
Representative Huebsch asked unanimous consent for a quorum call. Granted.
A quorum was present.
Representative Sinicki asked unanimous consent that her leave of absence be lifted.
Representative Suder asked unanimous consent that his leave be lifted. Granted.
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Representative A. Williams asked unanimous consent that her leave of absence be lifted.
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Representative Vrakas asked unanimous consent for a leave of absence for part of today's session for Representative Lamb. Granted.
Speaker Gard in the chair.
Speaker Pro Tempore Freese in the chair.
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Assembly Bill 21
Relating to: computing expense deductions and amortization and depreciation on property used in farming for income and franchise tax purposes.
Representative Huebsch asked unanimous consent that Assembly Bill 21 be referred to the joint committee on Finance. Granted
Representative Kreuser asked unanimous consent that the vote by which Item Veto C-4 (Nursing Home Rate Increase) of Assembly Bill 100 passed notwithstanding the objections of the governor be expunged.
Representative Huebsch objected.
Assembly Bill 27
Relating to: authorizing a program for tuition gift certificates at the University of Wisconsin System.
The question was: Shall Assembly amendment 1 to Assembly Bill 27 be adopted?
Motion carried.
The question was: Shall Assembly amendment 2 to Assembly Bill 27 be adopted?
Motion carried.
The question was: Shall Assembly amendment 3 to Assembly Bill 27 be adopted?
Motion carried.
Representative Colon asked unanimous consent to be recorded as voting "No" on the official roll call vote of passage on Item Veto C-4 (nursing home rate increases) of Assembly Bill 100 notwithstanding the objections of the governor.
Huebsch objected.
Representative Richards moved that the vote by which Item Veto C-4 (nursing home rate increase) of Assembly Bill 100 passed notwithstanding the objections of the governor be expunged.
Speaker Pro Tempore Freese ruled the motion for expungement of the vote out of order because the partial item veto was messaged to the Senate on Tuesday, September 20.
Representative Travis moved that the vote by which Item Veto C-4 (nursing home rate increase) of Assembly Bill 100 passed notwithstanding the objections of the governor be expunged.
Speaker Pro Tempore Freese ruled the motion not timely.
Representative Schneider asked unanimous consent for the voting system to display the running total while the roll is still open.
Representative Huebsch objected.
The question was: Shall Assembly Bill 27 be ordered engrossed and read a third time?
The roll was taken.
The result follows:
