Friday, November 16, 2007
Ninety-Eighth Regular Session
The Chief Clerk makes the following entries under the above date.
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State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
November 16
, 2007
To the Honorable, the Senate:
The following bill(s), originating in the Senate, have been approved, signed and deposited in the office of the Secretary of State:
Bill Number Act Number Date Approved
Senate Bill 186 Act 33
November 16
, 2007
Senate Bill 214 Act 34
November 16
, 2007
Respectfully submitted,
JIM DOYLE
Governor
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State of Wisconsin
Department of Transportation
October 8, 2007
The Honorable, The Senate:
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is required to have cost-efficiency standards for Wisconsin transit systems, as specified by statute and administrative rule. The language contained in Administrative Rule TRANS 4 states:
“The department shall assess the performance of each transit system receiving aid under the {state operating assistance} program on an annual basis, using the six performance indicators defined in sub. (2) . . .."
The six performance indicators are: passengers/capita, expense/passenger, expense/revenue hour, passengers/revenue hour, revenue hours/capita, and operating ratio (revenue/expense ratio). The cost-efficiency standards implementation plan (attached) discusses in greater depth the process and methodology for determining transit system compliance.
The preliminary results of this analysis show that 66 of Wisconsin's 69 transit systems are in compliance with the cost-efficiency standards. Further analysis is underway for three transit systems; New Richmond (Shared Ride Taxi), Plover (Shared Ride Taxi), and Waterloo/Marshal (Shared Ride Taxi) whose stage 1 & 2 analyses indicate a need for further evaluation.
The process of analysis follows a tiered methodology (attached). Transit systems are divided into six peer groups based on commonality of operating system characteristics. The first stage of analysis involves peer group comparisons by system type. To be judged in compliance at this stage, a transit system must meet or exceed the performance standard for four of the six performance measures.
Five shared ride taxi transit systems (New Richmond, Ozaukee Co., Plover, Washington Co. and Waterloo/Marshall) were found to be out of compliance with three or more of the six performance measures after this step. A detailed chart of the step one analysis is attached.
For transit systems not meeting the cost-efficiency standards at step one, a second stage of analysis is prescribed. The step two analysis involves a time-trend review over a five-year period. When a system shows improvement over those five years in enough measures so that the number totals at least four of the six indicators, then that system is deemed to be in compliance.
After performing the second step of the analysis, three transit systems will need a third step evaluation (New Richmond, Plover, and Waterloo/Marshall). A detailed matrix of the step two analysis is also attached.
A third tier analysis assesses the implementation status of recommendations made in the transit system's most recently completed management performance audit. A third tier analysis for New Richmond, Plover, and Waterloo/Marshall could not be conducted, as management performance audits have not traditionally been performed for Shared Ride Taxis. Therefore, Wisconsin DOT will now conduct a management performance audit of these systems to begin the third tier analysis process. New Richmond, Plover, and Waterloo/Marshall will not be deemed to be in compliance until the performance review has been completed and recommendations for improvement are available.
In viewing the detailed data sheets, it is useful to note that the analyses for Milwaukee County, Madison, and the medium-sized bus systems use an external peer group. The data is drawn from the National Transit Database for the year 2004. Since comparable national transit data for small-sized transit systems is not available, the analyses for the small bus group, commuter bus group, and shared-ride taxi group use the statewide peer group itself for comparison. This group primarily uses 2004 actual data, as reported in each system's 2006 annual application for state aid.
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Since CY 2004 data is used, this analysis does not reflect decisions made locally beyond 2004 to improve performance. If available, this information will be included in the completed management performance audits for New Richmond, Plover, and Waterloo/Marshall.
If you have any questions about these standards or the analysis, please contact me at 608-266-0189.
Sincerely,
John Alley
Chief, Public and Specialized Transit Section
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
Department of Natural Resources
November 9, 2007
The Honorable, The Senate:
Attached to this letter is the Environmental Improvement Fund Biennial Report for the 2005-2007 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,
Frank Hoadley
Capital Finance Director
Department of Administration
Debra K. Martinelli
Director, Bureau of Community Financial Assistance, Department of Natural Resources
Referred to committee on Environment and Natural Resources.
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
November 9, 2007
The Honorable, the Legislature:
At the request of the departments of Commerce and Administration, and in accordance with s 13.94(1s), Wis. Stats., we have completed a financial audit of the State of Wisconsin Petroleum Inspection Fee Revenue Obligations Program for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2007, and June 30, 2006. We express our unqualified audit opinion on the Statement of Changes in Program Assets and related notes.
Under the program, the State has issued revenue obligations, such as bonds and commercial paper, to provide financing for payment of claims under the Wisconsin Petroleum Environmental Cleanup Fund Award (PECFA) program. These revenue obligations are not general obligation debt of the State. Instead, they are to be repaid primarily from petroleum inspection fees established under s.
168.12(1), Wis. Stats., and collected by the Department of Revenue.
During fiscal year 2006-07, the State collected $75.4 million in petroleum inspection fees and made $32.5 million in scheduled debt service payments, including $19.8 million in principal repayment and $12.7 million in interest. In addition, fees collected during the previous fiscal year were used for the early redemption of $37.9 million in outstanding petroleum inspection fee revenue bonds. As of June 30, 2007, a total of $272.6 million in revenue obligations remained outstanding, to be repaid from future petroleum inspection fees.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us during the audit by staff of the departments of Commerce, Administration, and Revenue.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Mueller
