Scott McCallum
Governor
__________________
Referral of Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
Madison
February 16, 2001
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
Chapter
34, Laws of 1979, requires that when the Department of Administration maintains an office in Washington, DC, for the purpose of promoting federal/state cooperation, it should submit a report detailing the activities of the office and reporting the status of federal legislation of concern to the Legislature and other state agencies (Wis. Stats. 16.548(2)).
The report for the period October, 2000, through December 2000, is attached.
Sincerely,
George Lightbourn
Secretary
Referred to committee on State Affairs.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Public Instruction
Madison
March 1, 2001
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
Wisconsin school laws include the following provision in s.
115.45 (6)(b) and
(c), Wis. Stats.:
SECTION 115.45 Grants for preschool to grade 5 programs.
(6) The state superintendent shall:
(b) By March 1, 1986, and annually thereafter, submit to the joint committee on finance and the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under s.
13.172 (3), a budget report detailing the grants he or she intends to award under this section in the next fiscal year. The report shall provide summary data on the results of the annual testing required under sub. (4) (b) and include a description of the guidelines used to determine the individual schools and private service providers that will receive funds under this section and the types of expenditures eligible for such funds.
(c) Annually submit to the legislature under s.
13.172 (2) a report on the academic progress made by pupils enrolled in preschool to grade 5 programs under this section.
All Preschool-to-Grade-5 (P-5) evaluation reports for 1999-2000 are contained herein as well as a report on the academic progress for all schools funded by the P-5 program. If you have any questions, please contact my office or Sandra Dercole in the DPI Office of Urban Education (414-227-4942).
Sincerely,
John T. Benson
State Superintendent
Referred to committee on Education.
__________________
Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
February 15, 2001
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
A117
At the request of several legislators including Senator George, who first requested it, we have performed a limited review of the State's settlement with Fort James Corporation for natural resource damages to the Fox River. A legal settlement between the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Wisconsin Department of Justice, and Fort James Corporation stipulated that the State will not sue Fort James for natural resource damages arising from the release of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) into the Fox River. In exchange, Fort James has agreed to provide or fund several environmental restoration projects at a cost that has been estimated to be $7.0 million. The settlement agreement, which was signed November 15, 2000, is subject to acceptance by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
Several aspects of the settlement agreement have been controversial, including the confidential nature of the negotiations that preceded the settlement; the use of consultants paid for by Fort James and other paper companies to value the environmental damages for which the State and local governments are to be compensated; the models used to value the environmental losses sustained; and the objections raised by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, whose staff were not included in the negotiations. However, DNR strongly defends its approach as reasonable and effective. Based on our review, we have identified several issues that are contentious, may result in limited opportunities for legislative oversight, or are unresolved at this time.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by DNR, the Department of Justice, and the Fish and Wildlife Service in conducting this review.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
__________________
Southeast Wisconsin
Professional Baseball Park District
Milwaukee
February 22, 2001
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
Enclosed please find the Miller Park Monthly Progress Report for the month of January 2001 for your review and consideration. As the enclosed report indicates, Miller Park continues to develop with the District Board's objectives of building the premier baseball facility in the country; scheduled for play on Opening Day 2001; within budget; and with meaningful community participation.
As always, please feel free to contact me if you should have any questions or comments regarding the enclosed report.
Very truly yours,
Michael R. Duckett, P.E., R.l.s.
Executive Director
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
February 27, 2001
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
As required by
1999 Wisconsin Act 9, we have completed a limited-scope review of the fiscal year 1999-2000 funds provided to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School's Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention. In the 1999-2001 biennial budget, the Center was appropriated $1.0 million annually from the funds received as part of the State's lawsuit settlement with tobacco manufacturers, which is known as the Master Settlement Agreement. The Center uses the funds it receives to support education, outreach, and research activities related to tobacco prevention and cessation.
Overall, we found the Center has developed and implemented adequate procedures to help ensure compliance with legislative intent and general statutory requirements that funds be used only for tobacco prevention and cessation activities. However, because of delays in finalizing the State's 1999-2001 biennial budget, as well as the need for start-up time to develop the programs, few expenditures have been incurred to date. Therefore, it is too early to assess the effectiveness of the Center's programs.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by University of Wisconsin staff during our review.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
