To the Honorable, the Assembly:
1991 Wisconsin Act 273 created section 1.11(2)(j), Wis. Stats., which requires the submittal of an annual report to the chief clerk of each house of the Legislature by September 15 regarding the preparation of environmental assessments and environmental impact statements.
I am submitting the attached report prepared by the Department of Agriuculture, Trade and Consumer Protection entitled "Annual Report on Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Statesments for Fiscal Year 1994-95" to comply with this requirement.
Please contact Buzz Davis of my staff at 224-4593 if there are any questions regarding the report.
Sincerely,
Alan T. Tracy
Secretary, DATCP
Referred to committee on Natural Resources.
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Communications
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
September 13, 1995
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We have completed a review of issues related to the effect of mandates on local school districts, as requested by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. Our efforts focused on developing information that may be of use in completing a future study of the effect of mandates on peer pupil expenditures, including determining the mandates of greatest concern to local officials.
Although discussions about mandates often focus on the 20 standards delineated in s.
121.02, Wis. Stats., school districts are subject to a far larger number of federal and state requirements; state statutes alone delineate at least 280 such requirements. In addition to educational standards, these requirements address such things as safety, finance, and building maintenance.
Based on survey responses of 315 school board presidents and superintendents, it appears the great majority recognize that state mandates stem from the State's overall responsibility for education. However, there is widespread frustration with mandates and general agreement that additional funding and flexibility are needed. Those requirements about which concerns were most frequently expressed were the 20 standards, special education, and limits on district revenue increases.
Despite expressed concerns, we were unable to identify any existing model for efficiently measuring the fiscal effect of mandates, including the extent to which district expenditures are attributable to local initiatives rather than state or federal requirements. In addition, although some local officials offered to assist in the development of information necessary to complete such an analysis, others asserted that the need to develop or provide such information would be viewed as another state mandate.
Rather than develop information about expenditures that have already been incurred, it may be more practical to adopt strategies for measuring the costs of mandates in the future, particularly new mandates. The Legislature has, however, already taken some steps to address concerns about mandates, including increasing district flexibility and eliminating some mandates.
Sincerely,
Dale Cattanach
State Auditor
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State of Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources
Madison
August 31, 1995
The Honorable, The Legislature:
I am pleased to send you the report, Cryptosporidium ssp. Oocyst and Giardia ssp. Cyst, Occurrence, Distribution and Levels in Wisconsin Waters. While this is our final and complete report, final published copies for general distribution will not be available for a few weeks. I will be happy to provide you with additional copies if needed.
I greatly appreciate the opportunity to conduct this important study and we hope you find the report informative. If you have any specific questions on the issues discussed in the report, feel free to contact Joe Ball with the Bureau of Water Resources Management at (608) 266-7390.
Sincerely,
George E. Meyer
Secretary, DNR
