Wednesday, June 4, 1997
Ninety-Third Regular Session
The Chief Clerk makes the following entries under the above date.
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Read and referred:
Senate Joint Resolution 25
Relating to: recommending the closing of the navy's Project ELF transmitter.
By
Senators
Clausing, Jauch and Risser; cosponsored by Representatives Boyle, Black, Krug, Hanson, R. Potter, Bock, Notestein, R. Young and Plouff.
To committee on Health, Human Services, Aging, Corrections, Veterans and Military Affairs.
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Read first time and referred:
Senate Bill 224
Relating to: possession of ignition devices by minors and providing a penalty.
By
Senators
Grobschmidt, Roessler and Plache; cosponsored by Representatives R. Potter, Krusick, Ladwig, Dobyns, Huber, Urban, Kelso, Baumgart, Ott, Plale, L. Young and Schneider.
To committee on Judiciary, Campaign Finance Reform and Consumer Affairs.
Senate Bill 225
Relating to: the use of original manufacturer replacement parts.
By
Senators
Risser, Drzewiecki, Grobschmidt, Wirch, Clausing, Rosenzweig, Burke and Rude; cosponsored by Representatives Freese, Riley, Musser, Reynolds, Urban, Ziegelbauer, Ott, Travis, Underheim, Notestein, Handrick, Staskunas, Otte, L. Young, Albers, Hasenohrl, Hahn, Carpenter, Turner, Ryba and Meyer.
To committee on Judiciary, Campaign Finance Reform and Consumer Affairs.
Senate Bill 226
Relating to: the payment of wages and commissions owed to employes and commission salespersons whose employment ends, the termination or alteration of sales representative agreements and providing penalties.
By
Senators
Grobschmidt, Huelsman, Shibilski, Farrow and Roessler; cosponsored by Representatives Urban, Hoven, Vrakas, Turner, Duff, Powers, M. Lehman, R. Young, Johnsrud, Musser, Cullen, Schneider, Goetsch, Porter, Black, L. Young, Ott, Albers, Notestein, F. Lasee, Kaufert, Springer, Plale, Hahn, Baldwin and Riley.
To committee on Labor, Transportation and Financial Institutions.
Senate Bill 227
Relating to: requiring headlights and other required lamps on vehicles to be lighted while windshield wipers are being used.
By
Senators
Rude, Breske and A. Lasee; cosponsored by Representatives Baumgart, Ainsworth, Bock, Dobyns, Dueholm, Kelso, F. Lasee, Ott and Reynolds.
To committee on Labor, Transportation and Financial Institutions.
Senate Bill 228
Relating to: immunity of guardians ad litem.
By
Senators
Adelman and Huelsman; cosponsored by Representatives Vrakas, Murat, Green, R. Young, Gronemus, Cullen, Huber and Notestein.
To committee on Judiciary, Campaign Finance Reform and Consumer Affairs.
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State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
May 27, 1997
The Honorable, The Legislature:
As a final product of our audit of the Department of Transportation, we have completed an evaluation of the General Transportation Aid program. In calendar year 1997, this program will provide state transportation aid totalling $292.9 million, including $222.3 million to Wisconsin's 1,850 municipalities and $70.6 million to 72 counties. However, local representatives have sought increases in general transportation aid ranging from $33 million to $183.9 million annually, primarily to address a backlog of local rehabilitation needs and to provide property tax relief.
Department records indicate that 72.2 percent of local aidable costs can be attributed to local road maintenance and construction activities - including rehabilitation of existing roads and construction of new ones. Police spending accounted for 27.3 percent of aidable costs, while other local costs and revenues combined for the remaining 0.5 percent.
We found that cost categories aidable under the general transportation aid formula could be modified if the State pursues a policy of increased emphasis on maintenance and rehabilitation of existing roads. If additional funding is made available in the 1997-99 budget, it could be distributed using the formula or through the Local Roads Improvement Program, which reimburses up to 50 percent of the cost of improvement projects on existing local roads expected to last ten years or more.
S186
In addition, we found that 361 communities that in 1995 collected $16.8 million in special assessments for road projects also will receive $3.2 million in general transportation aid based on the same costs.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by staff of the department of Transportation and Revenue, and many local officials. The Department of Transportation has chosen not to attach a response to this report.
Sincerely,
Dale Cattanach
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
May 28, 1997
The Honorable, The Legislature:
To meet our audit requirements under s.139.94 (1) (em), Wis. Stats., we have completed a financial audit of the Wisconsin Lottery for fiscal year 1995-96. Our financial audit included tests to ensure that the financial statements are fairly presented and to assess the internal control policies and procedures and compliance with statutory requirements. In our report, we provide an unqualified, or "clean", opinion on the Wisconsin Lottery's financial statements. The audit report includes no major findings, conclusions, or recommendations.
Copies of the audit report have been distributed to members of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee and those required by law to receive copies. If you are interested in receiving a copy of this report, please contact our office and request report 97-8. the Audit Bureau provided information on the management of the Wisconsin Lottery in an earlier program evaluation that specifically reviewed factors affecting lottery sales and the results of privatization efforts. This report can be obtained by requesting report 97-2.
Sincerely,
Dale Cattanach
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
