October 15, 1996
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
Pursuant to s.
230.04 (13) (e), Wis. Stats., I am pleased to submit the Fiscal Year 1996 report on employment of recipients of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC). This report includes: 1) a description of each agency's efforts to employ aid recipients, and 2) the number of persons receiving aid under s.
49.19, Wis. Stats., employed by each agency and the classification title of each position filled from July 1, 1995 through June 30, 1996.
Enclosed is a copy of the AFDC report. Please contact Claire Dehnert at 267-1005 if you have questions or need additional information regarding this report.
Sincerely,
Jon E. Litscher
Secretary, DER
Referred to committee on Welfare Reform.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
Madison
October 9, 1996
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
This report is transmitted as required by sec. 20.002(11)(f) of the Wisconsin Statutes, for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under sec. 13.172(3) Stats., and confirms that the Department of Administration has found it necessary to exercise the "temporary reallocation of balances" authority provided by this section in order to meet payment responsibilities and cover resulting negative balances during the month of September, 1996.
On September 1, 1996 the Wisconsin Health Insurance Risk Sharing Fund balance was -$20 thousand. This shortfall continued through September 25, 1996 when the balance reached $88 thousand. The shortfall was due to the timing of revenues.
The Wisconsin Health Insurance Risk Sharing Fund, shortfall was not in excess of the $400 million ceiling and did not exceed the balances of the Funds available for interfund borrowing.
The distribution of interest earnings to investment pool participants is based on the average daily balance in the pool and each fund's share. Therefore, the monthly calculation by the State Controller's Office will automatically reflect the use of these temporary reallocations of balance authority.
Sincerely,
JAMES R. KLAUSER
Secretary, DOA
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
October 15, 1996
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
A number of concerns have been raised about the Department of Transportation's Statewide Transportation Enhancements Program, which provides funding for pedestrian and bicycle paths, historical preservation, landscaping, and other similar types of projects. First, confusion exists over how much federal funding is available for enhancements projects and how the Department has spent available funding. Second, some have questioned why Wisconsin has spent less than other states on enhancements. Third, some have expressed concern that the Department has not provided enough assistance to project sponsors, which include state agencies, counties, and local units of government, and has not taken advantage of funding options that are allowed by federal law and are designed to make it easier for sponsors to complete the projects for which they have construction responsibility.
We found that the federal government apportioned $52.8 million to the Enhancements Program from federal fiscal year (FFY) 1991-92 through FFY 1995-96, but the Legislature has appropriated $15.3 million to the program because other transportation programs were judged to be of higher priority. The Department has approved 178 projects requiring $21.0 million, or 39.8 percent of its total apportionment, which ranks it 45th among states. Sponsors have received $4.0 million in reimbursement for completed projects. Although staff have implemented some rule changes to make the program more accessible to sponsors, the Department could undertake additional efforts, such as providing sponsors with advance funding prior to construction and allowing sponsors to request additional funding if costs increase.
Our findings with regard to the Enhancements Program are attached. If you have additional questions, please contact me.
Sincerely,
Dale Cattanach
State Auditor
