Report received from Agency, January 23, 1997.
To committee on Government Operations
.
Referred on January 30, 1997.
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Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
December 18, 1996
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
We have completed a best practices review of local government operations as required by s.
13.94(8), Wis. Stats. Privatization of local government services was selected as the topic of our review with assistance of the Local Government Advisory Council, which consists of representatives of counties, cities, villages, and towns.
Nearly 50 percent of the local governments responding to our survey reported that within the past seven years, they had initiated at least one contract for services with a private vendor. Survey respondents most often reported contracts for solid waste collection, recycling, building maintenance, building inspection, and road and street repair services.
Local governments commonly consider contracting with private vendors as a way to reduce service costs; however, careful assessment is necessary to ensure desired benefits will be achieved. In particular, before entering a contract, the full costs of government service delivery must be measured and compared to estimated contracting costs. In addition, service delivery decisions need to take into account whether a delivery system is consistent with the local government's goals and objectives for the service, including quality, control, and long-term stability, as well as the requirements of existing laws and legal obligations.
Based on the contracting experiences of several counties and municipalities, as well as professional and academic literature, this report identifies best practices to follow when contracting for public services. Specific practices are identified for local governments to consider in selecting vendors, specifying service expectations and administrative responsibilities, and establishing monitoring procedures.
We thank the Local Government Advisory Council for its assistance in selecting the topic for our review, and we appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by local government staff.
Respectfully submitted,
Dale Cattanach
State Auditor
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State of Wisconsin
State Historical Society
Madison
December 18, 1996
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
I'm pleased to send you the second annual report from the Electronic Records Program at the State Historical Society. The State Legislature established the program with a special appropriation in 1994.
The report includes a Preliminary Preservation Plan for statewide electronic records, a Strategic Plan for the Electronic Records Program, and a report on the attempt to take custody of historical data from the Sentencing Commission. Each of these documents identifies issues that must be addressed to ensure the preservation of Wisconsin's historically significant electronic records.
Information technology can help Wisconsin state and local agencies do more with less. However, they must also consider the responsibilities that come with creating, using, storing, and preserving electronic records. The State Historical Society and the Electronic Records Program look forward to working with state and local government employes to ensure that our valuable electronic resources are properly managed.
Please call me at 264-6480 if you have any questions about our second year report or would like further information on our work.
Sincerely,
Peter Gottlieb
State Archivist
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State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
December 20, 1996
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
We have completed a review of the policy and procedures used to reimburse legislators for travel expenses as detailed in the attachment to this letter. The per diem allowance paid for days spent in Madison on legislative business is structured in a manner that takes into account federal tax laws governing legislators who must establish a temporary residence outside their legislative districts.
We have included a series of alternatives that could be considered in any revision to current policy or practice, including establishing guidelines for eligible claims and strengthening oversight of claims by the presiding officer of each house, modifying the amount and form of reimbursement, or converting the current per diem allowance to an increase in salary.
We appreciate the cooperation of the Chief Clerk and the Legislative Reference Bureau in preparing this review.
Sincerely,
Dale Cattanach
State Auditor
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Representative Freese requested a Call of the Assembly. There were sufficient seconds.
The Sergeant-at-Arms was directed to close the doors and the Chief Clerk to call the roll.
The Chief Clerk called the roll.
All members being present or absent with leave, the Call of the Assembly was lifted.
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Assembly Joint Resolution 12
Relating to: 4-year terms of office for, appointment of, vacancies in the offices of, and the restriction on holding any other office by, sheriffs (2nd consideration).
Representative Sykora asked unanimous consent to be made a coauthor of Assembly Joint Resolution 12. Granted.
The question was: Assembly Joint Resolution 12 having been read three times, shall the joint resolution be adopted?
The roll was taken.
The result follows:
Ayes - Representatives Ainsworth, Albers, Baldwin, Black, Bock, Boyle, Brandemuehl, Dobyns, Duff, Foti, Freese, Gard, Goetsch, Green, Gronemus, Grothman, Gunderson, Hahn, Handrick, Hanson, Harsdorf, Hasenohrl, Hebl, Hoven, Huber, Huebsch, Hutchison, Jensen, Jeskewitz, Johnsrud, Kaufert, Kedzie, Kelso, Klusman, Kreibich, Kreuser, Krusick, Kunicki, Ladwig, F. Lasee, Lazich, J. Lehman, M. Lehman, Linton, Lorge, Meyer, Murat, Nass, Notestein, Olsen, Ott, Otte, Ourada, Owens, Plale, Plouff, Porter, R. Potter, Powers, Reynolds, Riley, Rutkowski, Ryba, Schafer, Seratti, Skindrud, Springer, Staskunas, Steinbrink, Sykora, Travis, Turner, Underheim, Vander Loop, Vrakas, Walker, Ward, Wasserman, Wieckert, L. Young, Zukowski and Speaker Brancel - 82.
Noes - Representatives Baumgart, Carpenter, Cullen, Dueholm, Hubler, Krug, La Fave, Morris-Tatum, Musser, Robson, Schneider, Urban, Wood, R. Young and Ziegelbauer - 15.
Absent or not voting - Representatives Coggs and Williams - 2.
Motion carried.
Representative Lorge moved reconsideration of the vote by which Assembly Joint Resolution 12 was adopted.
Entered.
Representative Freese moved that the rules be suspended and that the motion for reconsideration of the vote by which Assembly Joint Resolution 12 was adopted be taken up at this time.
The question was: Shall the rules be suspended and that the motion for reconsideration of the vote by which Assembly Joint Resolution 12 was adopted be taken up at this time?
The roll was taken.
The result follows:
Ayes - Representatives Ainsworth, Albers, Brandemuehl, Dobyns, Duff, Foti, Freese, Gard, Goetsch, Green, Gronemus, Grothman, Gunderson, Hahn, Handrick, Harsdorf, Hasenohrl, Hoven, Huebsch, Hutchison, Jensen, Jeskewitz, Johnsrud, Kaufert, Kedzie, Kelso, Klusman, Kreibich, Krusick, Ladwig, F. Lasee, Lazich, M. Lehman, Lorge, Musser, Nass, Olsen, Ott, Otte, Ourada, Owens, Porter, Powers, Reynolds, Schafer, Seratti, Skindrud, Sykora, Underheim, Urban, Vrakas, Walker, Ward, Wieckert, Zukowski and Speaker Brancel - 56.
Noes - Representatives Baldwin, Baumgart, Black, Bock, Boyle, Carpenter, Cullen, Dueholm, Hanson, Hebl, Huber, Hubler, Kreuser, Krug, Kunicki, La Fave, J. Lehman, Linton, Meyer, Morris-Tatum, Murat, Notestein, Plale, Plouff, R. Potter, Riley, Robson, Rutkowski, Ryba, Schneider, Springer, Staskunas, Steinbrink, Travis, Turner, Vander Loop, Wasserman, Wood, L. Young, R. Young and Ziegelbauer - 41.
Absent or not voting - Representatives Coggs and Williams - 2.
Motion failed.
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Announcements
Representative Meyer asked unanimous consent that the Assembly adjourn in honor of Jennifer Ehlenfeldt of his office staff, for her service to the people of the State of Wisconsin and the 95th Assembly District for the past four years. Granted.
Representative Baumgart asked unanimous consent that the Assembly adjourn in honor of Aldo Leopold. Granted.
Representative Hebl asked unanimous consent that the Assembly adjourn in honor of Jimmy the Groundhog, on the occasion of Groundhog Day in Sun Prairie on February 2. Granted.
Representative Bock asked unanimous consent that the Assembly adjourn in honor of John Lyons Doyne, former County Executive of Milwaukee County who died yesterday, January 29, 1997, at the age of 84. He became the first Milwaukee County Executive in 1960 and held the post for 16 years. He had previously held the offices of State Assembly from 1940-42; Milwaukee County Deputy Treasurer from 1953-54; Milwaukee County Supervisor from 1954-60; and was Chairman of the Board from 1958-60. He retired from the Government in 1976. He is survived by his wife Jacqueline of Hartland; his children, John Jr. of Wauwatosa; William of Winter Haven, FL; Patricia Heinemann of Greenfield; and Mary Doyne of Pewaukee. Granted.
Representative Dueholm asked unanimous consent that the Assembly adjourn in honor of his mother, Hazel Dueholm, on the occasion of her 80th birthday and her dedicated service to her family and community and two generations of State Assemblymen - her husband Harvey (1959-1978) and her son Bob (1995-present). Granted.
A46
Representative Kaufert asked unanimous consent that the Assembly adjourn in honor of Peggy Partenfelder-Moede of his office staff, in recognition of her valuable years of outstanding service to his office from 1992-1996. Granted.
Representative Krusick asked unanimous consent that the Assembly adjourn in honor of Davin Lescohier, her good-natured and conscientious former legislative aide, who is leaving Wisconsin government service. Granted.
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SEAT ASSIGNMENTS
Pursuant to Assembly Rule
2 (4), for the 1997-1998 Legislative Session in the Assembly Chamber, Democratic members will be seated on the east (door) side of the center aisle plus seat numbers 96-98. Republican members will be seated in the remaining seats on the west (window) side of the center aisle. Speaker Brancel will occupy seat number 5. Seat number 20 will remain vacant.
Member Seat No.
Ainsworth15
Albers17
Baldwin40
Baumgart92
Black33
Bock89
Boyle97
Brancel5
Brandemuehl49
Carpenter95
Coggs65
Cullen60
Dobyns69
Dueholm31
Duff23
Foti4
Freese2
Gard28
Goetsch76
Green3
Gronemus35
Grothman50
Gunderson74
Hahn56
Handrick75
Hanson14
Harsdorf19
Hasenohrl94
Hebl30
Hoven22
Huber88
Hubler96
Huebsch55
Hutchison27
Jensen24
Jeskewitz71
Johnsrud48
Kaufert21
Kedzie42
Kelso46
Klusman99
Kreibich53
Kreuser58
Krug90
Krusick11
Kunicki8
La Fave 68
Ladwig1
Lasee, F.51
Lazich44
Lehman, M.80
Lehman, J.39
Linton93
Lorge78
Meyer57
Morris-Tatum61
Murat13
Musser100
Nass41
Notestein32
Olsen47
Ott84
Otte79
Ourada18
Owens81
Plale38
Plouff86
Porter77
Potter7
Powers43
Reynolds91
Riley34
Robson63
Rutkowski37
Ryba36
Schafer54
Schneider6
Seratti16
Skindrud82
Springer85
Staskunas66
Steinbrink59
Sykora83
Travis10
Turner64
Underheim45
Urban52
Vander Loop98
Vrakas25
Walker70
Ward72
Wasserman12
Wieckert26
Williams62
Wood9
Young, L.67
Young, R.29
Ziegelbauer87
Zukowski73
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Representative Foti moved that the Assembly stand adjourned until 9:30 A.M. on Wednesday, February 12.
The question was: Shall the Assembly stand adjourned?
Motion carried.
The Assembly stood adjourned.
10:50 A.M.
