To the Honorable, the Legislature:
A1185
In compliance with Wisconsin statute 16.548, please find the Wisconsin Office of Federal/State Relations quarterly report to be submitted to the Legislature for the second quarter of 2006. This report provides information on the activities of the office and the status of federal legislation of concern to the State of Wisconsin.
Please contact me if you have any questions about this material.
Sincerely,
Stephen E. Bablitch
Secretary
Referred to committee on State-Federal Relations.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources
Madison
August 8, 2006
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
I'm pleased to announce the availability a new publication entitled Wisconsin's Brownfields Initiative: 2006 Report To The State Legislature, a joint publication from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Department of Commerce and Department of Administration.
The report, required by statute (S.
292.255, Wis. Stats.), provides a summary of the legislative, financial and policy initiatives created and implemented by the State of Wisconsin since the passage of the Land Recycling Act in 1994 (Wisconsin Act 453). These initiatives have aided communities all across the state in the investigation, cleanup and redevelopment of hundreds of brownfields - abandoned, idle or underused properties where the reuse is hindered by real or perceived contamination.
Sincerely,
Scott Hassett
Secretary
Referred to committee on Natural Resources.
__________________
Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
August 8, 2006
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
As requested by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, we have completed a review of the State's economic development programs. The Department of Commerce is the State's lead agency for economic development. It administered 88 of the 152 programs we identified to encourage the establishment and growth of businesses, including creating and retaining jobs. Seven other state agencies administered the remaining programs.
The 152 programs we identified provided financial assistance and direct services to businesses, individuals, local governments, and nonprofit and other organizations from fiscal year (FY) 2001-02 through FY 2004-05. During the period we reviewed, these programs awarded $180.9 million in grants and loans, as well as $56.3 million in targeted tax credits, $240.4 million in bonding authorization, and $64.4 million in loan guarantees.
We make a number of recommendations to streamline economic development programs by clarifying their purposes, consolidating statutory requirements, and standardizing eligibility criteria. In addition, accountability could be enhanced by strengthening agency reporting requirements and disclosing project costs and benefits to the public.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the Department of Commerce and the other agencies we reviewed. A response from Commerce follows the appendices.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
