Wisconsin Legislature: 2005-11-03 Senate Journal

In fiscal year 2005, the State of Wisconsin continued to devote the major share of state tax collections to assistance to local school districts, municipalities and counties. Local assistance accounted for 56.3 percent of total general purpose revenue spending. Aid payments to individuals and organizations represented 21.3 percent of total general purpose revenue expenditures. The University of Wisconsin accounted for 8.3 percent of total general purpose revenue spending and state operations spending for all other state agencies accounted for 14.1 percent of the total.

Wisconsin, along with many other states, continues to struggle with Medicaid costs and insufficient federal revenues. Under 2005 Wisconsin Act 15, the Legislature directed that a transfer of $75 million be made from the General Fund to the Medical Assistance Trust Fund. This amount was in addition to $123.5 million transferred in fiscal year 2004 and $50 million transferred in fiscal year 2005 under prior legislation.

Due to limited General Fund resources resulting from the revenue accounting adjustments and the slightly slower growth in general fund revenues in fiscal year 2005, this transfer has been divided between fiscal year 2005 and fiscal year 2006 pursuant to the authority under s. 16.52 (12), Wisconsin Statutes. In fiscal year 2005, $20 million was transferred from the General Fund to the Medical Assistance Trust Fund. The remaining $55 million was transferred in July 2005 (fiscal year 2006). For this reason, the Medical Assistance Trust Fund continues to carry a $53.9 million deficit at the end of fiscal year 2005. The July 2005 transfer will fully address the 2003-05 deficit in the Medical Assistance Trust Fund. Given the fiscal year 2005 closing balance of $4.1 million, the transfer of the entire $75 million prior to June 30, 2005, would have left the general fund with a $50 million deficit.

In the absence of any revisions to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau's May 2005 revenue estimates, the slightly lower than anticipated revenues combined with the adjustment to the fiscal year 2005 opening balance, reduce by $56.7 million the projected general fund ending balance for both fiscal years 2006 and 2007 under 2005 Wisconsin Act 25 (the 2005-07 biennial budget), as reported by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau. While still positive, these estimated fund balances are extremely small relative to the overall general fund budget.

The State of Wisconsin expects to publish its comprehensive annual financial report in December of 2005. The report will be prepared under generally accepted accounting principles.

Sincerely,

STEPHEN E. BABLITCH

Secretary

WILLIAM J. RAFERTY, CPA

State Controller

State of Wisconsin

Department of Administration

November 1, 2005

The Honorable, The Senate:

Attached to this letter is the Environmental Improvement Fund Biennial Report for the 2003-2005 biennium. The report provides information on the activities and operations of the program during the previous biennium. This report is submitted in accordance with s. 281.59(3)(j), Wis. Stats.

If you have any questions regarding the Biennial Report, please contact Bob Ramharter at 266-3915 or Frank Hoadley at 266-2305.

Sincerely,

MICHELE YOUNG

Director, Bureau of Community Financial Assistance

Department of Natural Resources

FRANK HOADLEY

Capital Finance Director

Department of Administration

The State of Wisconsin

office of the governor

executive order #127

Relating to a Special Election for the Thrity-third Assembly District

WHEREAS, the Honorable Daniel P. Vrakas, submitted his resignation as a State Representative for the Thirty-third Assembly District, effective October 31, 2005;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JIM DOYLE, Governor of the State of Wisconsin, pursuant to section 8.50(4) of the Wisconsin Statutes, order that a special election be held on Tuesday, January 10, 2006 to fill the vacancy in the Thirty-third Assembly District. A description of the boundaries of the Thirty-third Assembly District as created in the combined cases of Baumgart et al. v. Wendelberger, Case No. 01-C-0121 (E.D. Wis. 2002) and Jensen et al. v. Wendelberger, Case No. 02-C-0366 (E.D. Wis. 2002) are set out in the 2003-04 Wisconsin Statutes following section 4.005. The term for the Thirty-third Assembly District will expire on the first Monday in January, 2007. If a primary is necessary, it shall be held on Tuesday, December 13, 2005. Circulation of nomination papers for candidates may begin on Tuesday, November 1, 2005, and nomination papers may be filed no later than 5:00 P.M., November 15, 2005 in the office of the State Elections Board. This election shall be held, conducted, canvassed and returned in accordance with law.

IN TESTIMONY WHERE OF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Wisconsin to be affixed. Done at the Capitol in the city of Madison this first day of November in the year two thousand five.

JIM DOYLE

Governor

By the governor:

DOUGLAS LA FOLLETTE

Secretary of State

The State of Wisconsin

office of the governor

executive order #128

Relating to a Proclamation that the Flag of the United States and the Flag of the State of Wisconsin be Flown at Half-Staff in Rememberance of Rosa Parks

WHEREAS, on October 24, 2005, Rosa Parks passed away at the age of ninety-two; and

WHEREAS, Rosa Parks courageously defied injustice and by doing so helped to inspire the modern civil rights movement; and

WHEREAS, the President has directed that the flag of the United States be lowered to half-staff at all public buildings and grounds in honor of Rosa Parks on the day of her interment;

S432 NOW, THEREFORE, I, JIM DOYLE, Governor of the State of Wisconsin, by the authority vested in me by Federal and State law, do hereby order that the flag of the United States and the flag of the State of Wisconsin shall be flown at half-staff at all buildings, grounds and military installations of the State of Wisconsin equipped with such flags beginning at sunrise on Wednesday, November 2, 2005, and ending at sunset on that date.

JIM DOYLE

Governor

By the governor:

DOUGLAS LA FOLLETTE

Secretary of State

__________________

referrals and receipt of committee reports concerning proposed administrative rules

Senate Clearinghouse Rule 05-014

Relating to livestock facility siting, and affecting small business.

Submitted by Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

Report received from Agency, November 1, 2005.

Referred to committee on Agriculture and Insurance, November 3, 2005.

Senate Clearinghouse Rule 04-135

Relating to manufactured home parks and affecting small businesses.

Submitted by Department of Commerce.

Report received from Agency, November 1, 2005.

Referred to committee on Veterans, Homeland Security, Military Affairs, Small Business and Government Reform, November 3, 2005.

Senate Clearinghouse Rule 05-050

Relating to cheating on an examination and breach of examination security.

Submitted by Department of Regulation and Licensing.