October 11, 1996
The Honorable, The Legislature:
This report presents statements of fund condition and operations (budgetary basis) of the State of Wisconsin for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1996. This satisfies the requirements of sec. 16.40(3), Wisconsin Statutes. Displayed are major sources of revenues and major categories of expenditures for the General Fund and other funds compared to the prior year.
The General Fund has an undesignated balance of $581.7 million as of the end of the fiscal year. This is $15.4 million higher than the $566.3 million estimate that was projected in the final Chapter
20 fund condition statement.
General purpose revenue taxes were $8.209 billion compared to $7.778 billion in the prior year, an increase of $431 million or 5.5 percent. General purpose revenue expenditures were $8.162 billion compared to $7.790 billion in the prior year, an increase of $372 million or 4.8 percent. This increase is primarily attributable to increased school aids and local assistance.
General purpose revenue spending increases in fiscal year 1996 were largely driven by increases in four areas: school aids increased by $235.0 million, shared revenues increased by $40.3 million, Medical Assistance increased by $33.8 million and Corrections increased by $30.4 million. These increases accounted for over 91 percent of the total increase in general purpose revenue spending.
In fiscal year 1996, the State of Wisconsin continued to devote the major share of state tax collections to assistance to local school districts, municipalities and counties. Local assistance accounted for 58.4 percent of total general purpose revenue spending. Aid payments to individuals and organizations represented 18.6 percent of total general purpose revenue expenditures. The University of Wisconsin accounted for 10.3 percent of total general purpose revenue spending and state operations spending for all other state agencies accounted for 12.7 percent of the total.
The State of Wisconsin expects to publish its comprehensive annual financial report in December of 1996. The report will be prepared under generally accepted accounting principles.
Sincerely,
james klauser
Secretary
William J. Raftery, cpa
State Controller
State of Wisconsin
Technical College System Board
October 11, 1996
The Honorable, The Legislature:
Pursuant to Wis. Stats. ss 38.12(11), this is to notify you that all sixteen districts of the Wisconsin Technical College System have provided the required materials, information, and orientations on sexual assault and sexual harassment for the 1996-97 school year. Information and materials are provided in students handbooks, information flyers, resource guides, student newspapers, booklets, college policies and verbal orientation sessions. Assurances from the districts and sample orientation materials are on file in our office and are available upon request.
If you need additional information or have any questions on this matter, please contact Mr. Keith Krinke, Director, Human Resources, at 266-1844.
Sincerely,
Edward Chin
State Director
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
October 15, 1996
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.
S906
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 advanced 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
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
October 14, 1996
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Bena
, Charles E.,
of Coon Valley, as a member of the Snowmobile Recreation Council, to serve for the term ending July 1, 1999.
Sincerely,
TOMMY G. THOMPSON
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Environmental Resources and Urban Affairs.
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
October 14, 1996
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Orner
, Earl L.,
of Barnes, as a member of the Snowmobile Recreation Council, to serve for the term ending July 1, 1999.
Sincerely,
TOMMY G. THOMPSON
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Environmental Resources and Urban Affairs.
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
October 14, 1996
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Pfaff
, Bill D.,
of New Lisbon, as a member of the Snowmobile Recreation Council, to serve for the term ending July 1, 1999.
Sincerely,
TOMMY G. THOMPSON
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Environmental Resources and Urban Affairs.
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
October 14, 1996
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Rasmussen, Kathleen M.,
of Cable, as a member of the Snowmobile Recreation Council, to serve for the term ending July 1, 1999.
Sincerely,
TOMMY G. THOMPSON
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Environmental Resources and Urban Affairs.
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
October 14, 1996
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Toftness, James,
of Hayward, as a member of the Snowmobile Recreation Council, to serve for the term ending July 1, 1999.
Sincerely,
TOMMY G. THOMPSON
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Environmental Resources and Urban Affairs.
__________________
Relating to relocation assistance.
Submitted by Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations.
Report received from Agency, October 15, 1996.
Referred to committee on Labor,
October 16, 1996.
Relating to plumbing plans and adopted standards.
Submitted by Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations.