The enclosed report provides data on the center's record of assisting persons and discussions with regulatory agencies. It includes information on the number of persons assisted; the kinds of assistance provided; and the center's major accomplishments and initiatives during 1998.
If you have any questions on any aspect of this report, please contact Hampton Rothwell, director of the Business Development Assistance Center, at email
hrothwell@commerce.state.wi.us or 608/267-0313.
Sincerely,
Brenda J. Blanchard
Secretary
State of Wisconsin
Investment Board
March 31, 1999
The Honorable, The Legislature:
As provided under section
25.17(14m) of the Statutes, attached is the Investment Board's annual performance report to the Legislature. This report discusses our progress in meeting investment goals, the types of investments managed by the board, our performance in 1998 and investments in Wisconsin.
Please contact me if you have any questions about this report or other matters.
Sincerely,
Patricia Lipton
Executive Director
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
March 30, 1999
The Honorable, The Senate:
We have completed a financial audit of the Unemployment Reserve Fund for fiscal years 1997-98 and 1996-97. This audit was performed at the request of the Department of Workforce Development, which administers the Fund.
The Unemployment Reserve Fund's cash balance related to taxable employers increased $83 million during the past fiscal year, to over $1.6 billion as of June 30, 1998. This cash balance is used to determine the tax rate schedule to apply to taxable employers. Since the cash reserves exceed the amount that allows employers to be taxed under the lowest rate schedule, the Fund is able to charge employers the lowest authorized tax rates.
Copies of the report have been distributed to members of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee and those required by law to receive them. If you are interested in receiving a copy of this report, please contact our office and request report number 99-4.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
March 31, 1999
The Honorable, The Senate:
We have completed an evaluation of the Department of Employment Relations' (DER's) training programs for state employes, as requested by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. These courses, which include statutorily required training for all new supervisors in the classified service, other training specific to state government, and general employe development training, represent 3 percent of all employe training expenditures reported through the State's accounting system from fiscal year (FY) 1993-94 through FY 1997-98. In FY 1997-98, expenditures for these courses totaled approximately $272,400 and enrollments totaled 1,943.
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DER's training course expenditures are paid through its program revenue training appropriation, which is funded primarily by course fees. From FY 1993-94 through FY 1996-97, revenue from these fees declined steadily, primarily because of a 34.7 percent decline in enrollments that resulted from a large number of cancellations by DER, high course fees, and limited course applicability. DER made efforts to improve its training program in FY 1997-98, when both revenue and enrollments returned to levels comparable to FY 1993-94 levels.
The Legislature can consider a number of options to address DER's role in providing training for state employes. These include maintaining DER's current role, directing DER to place more emphasis on coordinating state-sponsored training, or eliminating DER's training responsibilities and encouraging or mandating state agencies to play a larger role in providing training to their employes.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation DER extended to us. DER's response is the appendix.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
Wisconsin technical College System Board
April 5, 1999
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to share with you the attached report in compliance with section
38.04(21) of the statutes. This provision requires the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) Board to submit a report regarding high school pupils attending technical colleges. The report is to be submitted annually to the Legislature and to three state agencies (Departments of Administration, Public Instruction and Workforce Development).
This is the second time that the WTCS Board has issued a report under this provision. The requirement was established in the 1997-99 state budget bill (
1997 Wisconsin Act 27). Although the statutory deadline for submitting the report is the third Monday in February, we were not able to obtain complete data from all 16 technical college districts until two weeks ago. We apologize for the delay and will make every effort to comply with the deadline next year.
If you have any questions regarding this report, please contact Dan Clancy, Assistant State Director, at (608) 266-7983.
Sincerely,
Edward Chin
State Director
State of Wisconsin
Ethics Board
April 6, 1999
The Honorable, The Senate:
The following lobbyists have been authorized to act on behalf of the organizations set opposite their names.
For more detailed information about these lobbyists and organizations and a complete list of organizations and people authorized to lobby the 1999 session of the legislature, visit the Ethics Board's web site at
http://ethics.state.wi.us
Andrews, Morris Mecca Tech, Inc
Becker, Dismas Wisconsin Citizen Action
Birkholz, John Milwaukee Area Technical College
Boyer, Amy Wisconsin Trial Judges Association
Brick, Steve U.S. Generating Company
Cahill, Jane U.S. Generating Company
Cahill, Jane PG&E Corporation
Combs, W. Bryce Milwaukee Area Technical College
Cook, Sharon Wisconsin District Attorneys Association Inc
Cook, Sharon Wisconsin Car Rental Alliance
Dubiel, Cheri Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Elliott, Brian Strong Capital Management, Inc.
Essie, Patrick HLR Service Corporation
Gibbons, Leah U.S. Generating Company
Gunnlaugsson, Gordon H Marshall & Ilsley Corporation
Hatfield, Michael A Marshall & Ilsley Corporation
Hermes, Ronald Wisconsin Land Information Association
Hirst, James Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
Hottenroth, Theresa M Wisconsin Public Health Association
Knobel, Philip Wisconsin Council for Administrators of Special Services
Kuester, Dennis J Marshall & Ilsley Corporation
Lavinson, Melissa PG&E Corporation
Lee, Misha Sentry Insurance A Mutual Company
Mitchell, Brian Wisconsin Car Rental Alliance
Mitchell, Brian Wisconsin District Attorneys Association Inc
Moore, Thomas E HLR Service Corporation
Muenzmaier, Marty Kimberly-Clark Corporation
Mulcahy, Charles C. Strong Capital Management, Inc.
Osborne, Patrick Wisconsin State Telecommunications Association
Ostermann, Eric Wisconsin Academy of Physician Assistants
Ostermann, Eric Wisconsin Public Health Association
Ostermann, Eric Wisconsin Medical Group Management Association
Petersen, Eric J Snap-On Incorporated
Plautz, Jolene Wisconsin State Horse Council
Rogowski, Michael Strong Capital Management, Inc.
Schueller, Michael Strong Capital Management, Inc.
Sobotta, Russell Glaxo Wellcome, Inc
Stenger, Scott Madison Gas and Electric Company
