Although State Fair Park has been financially self-supporting since 1935, we found its financial condition is deteriorating. While revenues have exceeded operating expenditures in each of the past five years, expenditures have increased at a greater rate. In addition, the balance in the capital improvement fund is declining, and State Fair Park is limited in its ability to fund debt for the construction or major renovation of facilities.
State Fair Park's declining financial position has been caused by several factors, including a decline in attendance at the State Fair and a significant drop in automobile racing revenues. Although several options exist for the agency to enhance its revenues, it is difficult to determine which of these options will be most cost effective because State Fair Park lacks the detailed financial information necessary to make appropriate management decisions.
There is also uncertainty about State Fair Park's future relationship with the Pettit National Ice Center, located on the fairgrounds. The Pettit National Ice Center, Inc., a private, nonprofit corporation that leases the facility, was expected to provide full funding for the facility's operations as well as for debt service on state bonds that financed its construction. However, the corporation has struggled financially since the Pettit Center opened in December 1992. We estimate State Fair Park has paid $361,052 in support of the Pettit Center to date, but this amount would increase if the corporation were unable to uphold the terms of the lease or chose to exercise its option to not pay rent during the summer months.
In addition to questions about the Pettit Center, there are a number of unresolved concerns about buildings on the fairgrounds. While a 1993 study by the Department of Administration identified $29.2 million in remodeling, repair, and renovation needs, State Fair Park also has plans to construct a new youth dormitory at a total cost of $13.0 million and to renovate the existing coliseum at a total cost of $11.3 million. Given State Fair Park's current financial status, it is not certain how these projects will be funded.
We believe State Fair Park could take a number of steps to improve its operations. However, there are also several issues that require legislative consideration. In the short term, for example, the Legislature will need to decide whether to increase general purpose revenue-supported bonding in order to complete construction of the youth dormitory. Long-term considerations include how to finance the proposed coliseum renovation and whether general-purpose revenue will need to be provided in support of State Fair Park's operations.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the State Fair Park Board and its staff and by representatives of the Pettit National Ice Center, Inc. A response from State Fair Park Board's Executive Director is the appendix.
Sincerely,
Dale CAttanach
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
The University of Wisconsin
March 11, 1996
The Honorable, The Legislature:
At its meeting March 8, 1996, the Board of Regents accepted the attached report for submission to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under s.13.172(3).
Section
36.11(22)(b), Wis. Stats., requires the Board of Regents to submit a report to the chief clerk of each house of the Legislature annually on the methods each UW System institution used to disseminate information to students on sexual assault and sexual harassment.
S673
The law requires UW System institutions to incorporate into their orientation programs for newly entering students oral and written information on sexual assault and sexual harassment, including information on: 1) sexual assault by acquaintances of the victims; 2) the legal definitions and penalties for sexual assault: 3) generally available national, state, and campus statistics on sexual assault; 4) the rights of victims; and 5) protective behaviors including methods of recognizing and avoiding sexual assault and sexual harassment. In addition, each institution must annually supply to all students enrolled in the institution printed material that includes information on all of these topics.
This law was enacted in April 1990 and this is the fifth report to be compiled for the Legislature since its enactment.
If you need additional information regarding this report please contact Mark A. Schemmel at 262-5504.
Sincerely,
Katharine C. Lyall
President
Referred to committeee on Education and Financial Institutions.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
March 12, 1996
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Butz
, John F.,
of De Pere, as a member of the Fox River Management Commission, to serve for the interim term ending March 1, 1998
Sincerely,
TOMMY G. THOMPSON
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Environment and Energy.
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
March 12, 1996
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Miller
, Ron,
of Little Chute, as a member of the Fox River Management Commission, to serve for the interim term ending March 1, 1998
Sincerely,
TOMMY G. THOMPSON
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Environment and Energy.
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
March 12, 1996
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Van De Hey, Jane L.,
of Neenah, as a member of the Board of Nusing, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2000
Sincerely,
TOMMY G. THOMPSON
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Health, Human Services and Aging.
__________________
Senator Moen, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate recess until 12:43 P.M.
11:13 A.M.
__________________
12:43 P.M.
The Senate reconvened.
Senator Rude in the chair.
Mullally, Robert R.,
of Onalaska, as a member of the Minnesota-Wisconsin Boundary Area Commission, to serve for the interim term ending September 25, 1996 and for the full term ending September 25, 2001.
Read.
The question was: Confirmation?
The ayes and noes were required and the vote was: ayes, 33; noes, 0; absent or not voting, 0; as follows:
Ayes - Senators Adelman, Andrea, Breske, Buettner, Burke, Chvala, Clausing, Cowles, Darling, Decker, Drzewiecki, Ellis, Farrow, Fitzgerald, George, Grobschmidt, Huelsman, Jauch, A. Lasee, Moen, Moore, Panzer, Petak, C. Potter, Risser, Rosenzweig, Rude, Schultz, Shibilski, Weeden, Welch, Wineke and Zien - 33.
Noes - None.
Absent or not voting - None.
Confirmed.
Senator Farrow, with unanimous consent, would like to welcome to the Wisconsin Senate and introduce Simon McDonald the First Secretary-Chancery of the British Embassy - Washington DC.
Senator Buettner, with unanimous consent, asked to be added as a coauthor of Senate Bill 628.
Senator Burke, with unanimous consent, asked to be withdrawn as a coauthor of Senate Bill
546.
__________________
Relating to supervision fee charged to probationers and parolees.
Submitted by Department of Corrections.
Report received from Agency, March 19, 1996.
Referred to committee on State Government Operations and Corrections, March 19, 1996
.
Relating to contract administration fees and subscription service.
Submitted by Department of Administration.
Report received from Agency, March 15, 1996.
Referred to joint committee on Information Policy,
March 19, 1996.
Relating to medical standards for driver licensing.
Submitted by Department of Transportation.
Report received from Agency, March 15, 1996.
Referred to committee on Transportation, Agriculture and Local Affairs, March 19, 1996
.
Relating to creating a network of providers for the health insurance risk-sharing plan who will provide services at a discount greater than that which is already mandated by statute.
