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Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin
Madison
June 22, 1998
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
I am pleased to present you with the comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) of the Wisconsin Department of Employe Trust Funds (ETF) for the year ended December 31, 1997. The management of the Department is responsible for both the accuracy of the data, and the completeness and fairness of the presentation.
This report is intended to provide comprehensive and reliable information about the Department of Employe Trust Funds, the Wisconsin Retirement system, and the other benefit plans and trust funds administered by ETF. I would like to express my appreciation to the Governor, members of the Legislature, members of the boards, staff, employers, participants and all the people whose efforts and interest combine to assure the successful operation of the trust funds.
Sincerely,
Eric O. Stanchfield
ETF Secretary
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State of Wisconsin
Department of Employment Relations
Madison
September 16, 1998
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
The Department of Workforce Development and Employment Relations are pleased to send you a copy of the Wisconsin Works (W-2) Mentoring Guidelines. The Guidelines were developed to assist your agency to successfully employ and retain W-2 customers in training or permanent positions.
We have included two State agency mentoring plans, and workforce information and resources that may be used by supervisors to ensure that W-2 customers make the transition from welfare to work. All State agencies who train or employ W-2 customers are encouraged to establish a mentoring program.
We appreciate your participation in this program and look forward to your continued support.
If you have questions about this program, please contact Kathryn A. Moore, at (608) 266-9472, at the Department of Employment Relations.
Sincerely,
Jon E. Litscher, Secretary
Department of Employment Relations
Sincerely,
Linda Stewart, Secretary
Department of Workforce Development
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State of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin
Hospital and Clinics
Madison
September 30, 1998
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
Attached is the Annual Report to the Legislature of the UW Hospitals and Clinics Authority. The document outlines our major accomplishments, including our financial performance, for the 1997-98 fiscal year. UWHC continued its growth in admissions and clinics visits during the year, and we plan, in 1998-99, to add additional space to help us meet the increased demand for our services.
A988
UWHC was again rated among the best hospitals in the nation in several specialties according to
U.S. News and World; we have the best Organ Procurement Organization in the country; and our programs regularly receive national attention. While the challenges facing academic medical institutions will grow in the future, we are confident that UWHC will remain a source of pride to the State of Wisconsin and its people.
If you have questions or need further information, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Gordon M. Derzon
Chief Executive Officer, UWHC
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State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
October 8, 1998
We have completed an evaluation of the Petroleum Environmental Cleanup Fund Award (PECFA) program, which is jointly administered by the Department of Commerce and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). PECFA was established in 1988 to reimburse property owners for costs associated with required cleanup of discharges from eligible petroleum product storage systems. As of June 30, 1998, PECFA had reimbursed owners $541.3 million and had a backlog of $95.4 million in claims approved for payment; an additional $185.4 million in claims had been submitted to Commerce but not yet reviewed. The program is funded by a $0.03 per gallon fee on petroleum products at the wholesale level.
Wisconsin's cleanup costs are among the highest in the nation. The State ranks third nationally in total cleanup expenditures; it has stringent cleanup standards, applies them to all sites, and expects all contamination to be cleaned as soon as practicable following discovery. In contrast, some other states, including states with similarly stringent numeric enforcement standards, have adopted a risk-based approach to assessing petroleum-contaminated sites and prioritizing cleanup, so that sites posing the greatest risk to human health, sensitive environments, development, or other policy priorities are addressed first.
The Legislature, Commerce, and DNR have all taken steps to expedite the closure of sites and to control costs at new and existing sites. However, both continued cooperation between the agencies and a more coordinated approach to cleanup efforts are needed. We have made a number of recommendations to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the site cleanup process, including that DNR move aggressively to monitor sites for which it is responsible. We also recommend Commerce issue a schedule of usual and customary costs, as required by administrative rule, to eliminate unwarranted variations in costs for similar services.
However, it is unlikely that recently adopted cost-control efforts and better program management alone will be sufficient to bring the demand for reimbursements into balance with existing program revenues. We identify a series of questions that warrant consideration by the Legislature as it deliberates the future of the PECFA program.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by Commerce and DNR staff. Responses from the two agencies are included as Appendices IX and X.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
