To the Honorable, the Legislature:
I am pleased to provide you with this report on the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) for the biennium ending June 30, 2011.
As you are well aware, the period includes a change in administration on January 3, 2011. Under your leadership, Governor Walker, DWD has acted quickly to move the state's workforce system in a new direction, one that supports your goal of promoting a business climate that helps the private sector create 250,000 jobs in four years.
Our mission at DWD is advancing Wisconsin's economy and business climate by empowering and supporting the workforce, and our vision is to make Wisconsin the workforce of choice.
This report spans two years of workforce development efforts, but I want to note briefly some of our accomplishments so far this year:
• 2011-13 Budget - The fiscally responsible budget required tough decisions to get Wisconsin moving in the right direction. The budget included a one-week waiting period for initial payment of Unemployment Insurance benefits, saving $45.2 million a year when the measure takes effect next year. The budget also included $15 million a year in state funding for vocational rehabilitation services to serve people with disabilities.
• New website - One of my top priorities was to work with staff to identify ways we can better serve the public and communicate the many things we do every day to serve the people of Wisconsin. On June 20th, we launched a redesigned agency website at
http://dwd.wisconsin.gov, making it easier for job seekers, employers and the public to find information about our programs and services. This project was done in house with existing staff and resources.
• www.JobCenterofWisconsin.com - Our overall objective is to get Wisconsin working again, whether in new jobs we help create or existing positions that are vacant. At every opportunity, we promote this free, userfriendly employment site. Job postings by employers have set records, exceeding 34,000 on a given day and topping 100,000 in early September, surpassing the 75,000 total postings for all of last year.
• Governor's Council on Workforce Investment - In step with efforts to create a more business friendly environment, the Governor's Council on Workforce Investment now has greater private sector representation. The council will play an important role as we work with our partners and all stakeholders to align resources, target funding more effectively and achieve the best results. At DWD, we are working closely with the new Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to advance the economy.
• Unemployment Insurance - Working in consultation with the Unemployment Insurance Advisory Council, we are setting forth a plan to restore solvency in the UI trust fund, repay funds borrowed from the federal government and strengthen program integrity. As noted, Wisconsin now has a one-week waiting period for benefits. We are working with the UI Advisory Council on other steps to balance the fund. Program integrity efforts have been ongoing.
The year also included centennial celebrations of the two programs that started in Wisconsin and served as models to the nation, the Wisconsin Apprenticeship Program and Worker's Compensation. The apprenticeship program remains one of our best training programs and will serve us well in meeting the needs of employers for skilled workers. With its focus on safety, the worker's compensation program will help employers maintain safe, productive worksites and control costs. Much as we are working to move Wisconsin in a new direction and seek innovation, we also are committed to maintaining effective programs and services, improving them as needed.
We are pleased to be a part of your efforts to advance Wisconsin's economy and create new employment opportunities for the people of Wisconsin, and we look forward to continued success.
Sincerely,
Scott C. baumbach
Secretary
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
Madison
October 15, 2011
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
This report presents statements of fund condition and operations (budgetary basis) of the State of Wisconsin for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011. This satisfies the requirements of sec. 16.40 (3), Wisconsin Statutes. Displayed are major sources of revenues and major categories of expenditures for the General Fund and other funds compared to the prior year.
A586
The General Fund has an undesignated balance of $85.6 million as of the end of the fiscal year. This is $680 thousand lower than the balance of $86.2 million projected in the estimate for the January 31, 2011 Legislative Fiscal Bureau revenue estimates, as modified by
2011 Acts 10,
13 and
27.
General-purpose revenue taxes were $12.912 billion compared to $12.132 billion in the prior year, an increase of $780 million or 6.4 percent. Collections increased in fiscal year 2010-11 with individual income and sales tax collections 10.0% and 4.2% more, respectively, than the prior year.
General-purpose revenue expenditures, excluding fund transfers, were $13.565 billion compared to $12.824 billion in the prior year, an increase of $741 million or 5.8 percent.
In fiscal year 2011, 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 56.7 percent of total general purpose revenue spending. Aid payments to individuals and organizations represented 19.4 percent of total general purpose revenue expenditures. The University of Wisconsin accounted for 7.9 percent of total general purpose revenue spending and state operations spending for all other state agencies accounted for 16.0 percent of the total.
The State of Wisconsin expects to publish its comprehensive annual financial report in December of 2011. The report will be prepared under generally accepted accounting principles.
Sincerely,
Michael Huebsch
Secretary of Administration
Stephen J. Censky, CPA
State Controller
