Other DOA Duties. Specify that DOA and the Council on Utility Public Benefits could also specify topics to be addressed in the annual independent audits of the public benefits programs.
Emergency Rules. Specify that DOA would not be required to consult with the Council on Utility Public Benefits in promulgating rules for the public benefits programs. Specify that DOA would not have to make a finding of an emergency in order to promulgate emergency rules relating to public benefits programs during the period before the promulgation of permanent rules.
Revenue Sources for Public Benefits Programs
Continuation of Existing Utility Funding. Require the PSC to direct the phase-over of utility-funded public benefits programs to the new DOA public benefits programs during calendar years 2000, 2001 and 2002, rather that during 1999, 2000 and 2001.
New Fees -- Collected by Investor-Owned Utilities. Specify that for low-income programs, the initial fees collected in 1999-00 would be set at $24,000,000, rather than $27,000,000. Specify further, that the amounts collected for low-income programs ($24,000,000, less one-half of the amounts collected from municipal utilities) and for energy conservation and efficiency programs ($20,000,000, less one-half of the amounts collected from municipal utilities) would be reduced in proportion to the amount of time that has elapsed in 1999-00 before DOA has promulgated emergency rules setting the amount of fees that must be collected from the various utilities. Specify further that the amount of the "low-income need target" used to develop fee collection requirements for low-income programs in future fiscal years would be treated as if the full annual amounts for low-income programs had been collected.
New Fees -- Collected by Municipal Utilities and Cooperatives. Provide that municipal utilities and cooperatives would have to collect fees from their customers that average $16 per electric meter per year rather than $17 per meter. It is estimated that $7 million annually would be collected under this provision.
State Fiscal Effect. DOA would have to set public benefits fees such that: (a) for low-income program in 1999-00, $24 million would have to be collected (less one-half of any amounts raised by municipal utilities and cooperatives); and (b) for the energy conservation and efficiency services program in 1999-00, $20 million would have to be collected (less one-half of any amounts raised by municipal utilities and cooperatives). Municipal utility and cooperative fee collections are estimated under the revised $16 per electric meter per year provision to total $7 million for all public benefits programs. Thus, in 1999-00 investor-owned utilities would be required to contribute a minimum of $20.5 million to the utility public benefits fund for low-income programs and a minimum of $16.5 million to the utility public benefits fund for energy conservation. However, the proposal would also require that the 1999-00 amounts be prorated to reflect the amount of time that elapses until DOA promulgates emergency rules governing the amount of fees to be collected in 1999-00. Assuming that such rules would be in place by January 1, 2000, total investor-owned utility collections for public benefits would be estimated to be $18.5 million for the balance of the 1999-00 fiscal year.
Contribution rates for the 2000-01 fiscal year would have to be determined by DOA during the 1999-00 fiscal year. However, if it is assumed that they would be comparable to those set by this proposal for the 1999-00 fiscal year, additional contributions of $37 million from investor-owned public utilities in 2000-01 could be expected, representing a total of $74 million of fee revenues for the 1999-01 biennium.
15. AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
The amounts credited to the utility public benefits fund would actually be expended through the new sum sufficient appropriations to fund low-income assistance grants and energy conservation and efficiency grants. All revenues credited to the public benefits trust fund could be expended through the new sum sufficient appropriations for low-income assistance grants and energy conservation and efficiency and renewable resource grants. It is estimated that grant expenditures would amount to $18.5 million SEG in 1999-00 and $37.0 million SEG in 2000-01; however, the final expenditure amounts would be determined by the number and amount of grant applications actually received by DOA
[For a more complete description of utility public benefits programs as part of modifications to electric utility regulation ("Reliability 2000 Initiative"), see the description under "PSC -- Regulation of Electric Utilities: Reliability 2000 Initiative."]
Veto by Governor [F-1]: DOA Administrative Responsibilities. Delete the specific requirement that the low-income energy assistance public benefits program be established and administered "through the Division of Housing." Modify the definition of Division of Housing as used in connection with the utility public benefits program, so that the term "Division of Housing" means the Department of Administration. The effect of these partial vetoes is to eliminate any requirements that a specific administrative unit within DOA be responsible for the implementation of utility public benefits programs. As a result, the Secretary of DOA could determine how he or she wishes the Department to administer these programs.
Emergency Rules. Delete the requirement that the emergency rules regarding the collection of public benefits fees by utilities be promulgated no later than 60 days after the effective date of the biennial budget act.
[Act 9 Sections: 28at, 109m, 587b, 699m, 718b, 2334p and 9101(1zt), (1zu), (1zv) & (1zw)]
[Act 9 Vetoed Sections: 109m and 9101(1zu)]
Conference Committee/Legislature: Create a DOA air quality improvement program that provides grants to operators of electric power plants in western Wisconsin to support reductions of nitrogen oxide emissions that are necessary to comply with federal standards. Provide that the new grant program is only implemented if the DNR notifies DOA that it has issued a state implementation plan, in response to federal requirements, that require electric power plants in western Wisconsin to comply with nitrogen oxide emission reduction requirements. Create in DOA a segregated, sum sufficient appropriation for the program and a new segregated fund for air quality improvement.
Require DOA, upon notification by DNR, to transfer up to $2,500,00 annually to the air quality improvement fund from the appropriation for energy conservation and efficiency and renewable resource grants under the newly-created public benefits programs. In addition, require the PSC to collect up to $2,400,000 annually from assessments of electric public utility affiliates to also be deposited in the fund. Funding from both sources could be decreased in accordance with the notice from the DNR that lesser amounts are needed. Provide that both sources of funding are authorized for up to 10 years.
Direct DOA to provide grants of up to $4.9 million annually from the air quality improvement fund to generator public utilities or generator electric cooperatives that provide service in the western part of the state. Require DOA to promulgate rules for the program that include an identification of the reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions that will be achieved. Limit the maximum grant for any eligible public utility to $500,000 annually. Authorize grant recipients to assign the grant to third parties if the grant recipient demonstrates to the satisfaction of DOA that an equivalent amount of nitrogen oxide emissions is achievable by the third party.
[For a more complete description of the new air quality improvement provisions, see the description under "PSC - Regulation of Electric Utilities: Reliability 2000 Initiative."]
[Act 9 Sections: 109no, 587d, 695g, 718d, 2336mt and 2554j]
16. HIGH-VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION LINE FEE DISTRIBUTIONS
Senate /Legislature: Create two continuing appropriations to provide funding to municipalities and counties where new high-voltage transmission lines, defined as those that operate at 345 kilovolts or more, are located. Require applicants for establishing new high-voltage transmission lines, as part of the PSC approval process, to pay to DOA an annual impact fee equal to 0.3% of the cost of the transmission line and a one-time environmental impact fee equal to 5% of the cost of the transmission line. Require DOA to distribute the impact fee revenue to municipalities (cities, villages and towns) through which the new transmission line is routed in proportion to the amount of investment in the facility in each municipality. Provide that DOA shall distribute 50% of the revenue from the environmental fee to counties and the other 50% to municipalities in proportion to the amount of investment in each county and municipality. Direct DOA to promulgate rules for the new fees.
[For a more complete description of the new high-voltage transmission fees and grants, see the description under "PSC - Regulation of Electric Utilities: Reliability 2000 Initiative."]
[Act 9 Sections: 114nm, 511n, 511r, 2335wf, 2335wh, 9101(1zu) and 9341(1zt)]
Information Technology
1. BUREAU OF JUSTICE INFORMATION SYSTEMS -- DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND INTEGRATED JUSTICE INFORMATION SYSTEM PROJECTS [LFB Paper 190]
Governor: Provide $4,894,600 annually for the Bureau of Justice Information Systems (BJIS) to complete information technology automation in all district attorneys’ (DA) offices statewide and for other integrated justice information system projects. Program revenue would be provided from the following sources: (a) $2,484,300 in 1999-00 and $1,064,600 in 2000-01 from justice information system fee revenue; (b) $1,600,000 annually from penalty assessment surcharge revenue; and (c) $810,300 in 1999-00 and $2,230,000 in 2000-01 from federal anti-drug enforcement and matching state penalty assessment revenues provided through DOA's Office of Justice Assistance (OJA). Base funding from all sources totals $5,090,700 and 10.0 positions. In total, including base funds, the executive budget office indicates that $6,080,000 annually would be budgeted for DA office automation and $250,000 annually for integrated justice information system projects.
Create a separate, annual appropriation for justice information systems development, operation and maintenance funded from penalty assessment revenues, with the amounts appropriated transferred from OJA to BJIS. (See "Office of Justice Assistance" for further information on penalty assessment funding.)
As a nonstatutory provision, direct the Secretary of DOA to allocate $363,900 in 1999-00 and $1,782,000 in 2000-01 from OJA’s federal anti-drug enforcement and matching state penalty assessment appropriations to fund the installation of equipment for automated justice information systems. Direct the Secretary of DOA to allocate $446,500 annually from OJA federal anti-drug enforcement monies to fund the general operations of BJIS related to automated justice information systems.
Joint Finance/Legislature: Modify the provision as follows:
a. Reduce funding by $184,500 in 1999-00 and $181,400 in 2000-01 to reflect the lower operating costs for BJIS as identified by DOA.
b. Provide $35,800 in 1999-00 and $10,500 in 2000-01 to correct an error made in calculating costs of equipment necessary for DA LAN network infrastructure.
c. Convert contracted DA LAN and case management staff support to state employes. Provide an additional 9.0 positions in 1999-00 and 12.0 positions in 2000-01 in BJIS and reduce funding by $577,400 in 1999-00 and $662,400 in 2000-01.
d. Reduce funding by $483,100 in 1999-00 and $375,100 in 2000-01 to account for a delayed installation schedule for the DA LAN system.
e. Delete $623,300 in 1999-00 and $749,500 in 2000-01 to provide a staff support ratio of approximately 61 to 1.
f. Effective July 1, 2000, provide that $2, rather than $4, of the revenue from the justice information system fee be deposited to the BJIS justice information system fee appropriation. It is estimated that this provision would result in -$1,200,000 PR-REV.
g. Provide that $1,200,000 in 2000-01 be provided from penalty assessment revenues, rather than justice information fee revenues.
Total funding for BJIS is $4,649,500 and 19.0 positions in 1999-00 and $4,524,100 and 22.0 positions in 2000-01. Funding and positions are divided as follows: (a) justice information system fee, $3,919,700 in 1999-00 and $1,300,000 in 2000-01 and 19.0 positions annually; (b) penalty assessment revenues, $1,200,000 and 3.0 positions in 2000-01; and (c) Byrne anti-drug funds, $729,800 in 1999-00 and $2,024,100 in 2000-01.
In addition, specify that BJIS give priority to assisting counties that show the greatest need for additional assistant district attorney positions based on a weighted prosecutor caseload measurement formula developed by the state prosecutors office in the Department of Administration, unless such a county informs BJIS that it does not want to be given priority in receiving assistance.
Veto by Governor [D-8]: Delete the provision which requires that BJIS give priority to assisting counties that show the greatest need for additional assistant district attorney positions based on a weighted prosecutor caseload measurement formula developed by the state prosecutors office in the Department of Administration, unless such a county informs BJIS that it does not want to be given priority in receiving assistance.
[Act 9 Sections: 115, 517, 517e, 525x, 526, 539, 542, 9101(10g) and 9458(4m)]
[Act 9 Vetoed Section: 115]
2. STATE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES -- EXPENDITURE REESTIMATE [LFB Paper 140]
Governor: Provide $1,209,500 annually to increase the supplies and services expenditure level in the Division of Information Technology Services continuing appropriation to reflect estimated expenditure levels for non-personnel operating costs, based on the amount by which expenditures for these purposes exceeded budgeted levels in 1997-98. Funding to support the increased expenditures would be provided from charges to state agencies for their use of state computer utility services.
Joint Finance: Modify the Governor's recommendation to provide an additional $4,537,900 PR annually for increased supplies and services expenditure levels based on estimated 1998-99 expenditure levels. In addition, provide $464,500 PR annually to provide funding for increased permanent property expenditures.
Senate: Convert the current general operations PR appropriation for the Division of Information Technology Services (DITS) from a continuing to an annual appropriation. Under an annual appropriation, an agency may expend up to the maximum amount appropriated. In contrast, under a continuing PR appropriation, the dollar amounts in the appropriations schedule are only estimates of the amount of funds that the agency expects to spend for these purposes and DITS may expend as much as the accumulated revenue in the appropriation level will allow.
Conference Committee/Legislature: Include Joint Finance provision.
3. STATE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES -- GIS PROPERTY ASSESSMENT DATABASE PROJECT [LFB Paper 196]
Governor: Provide increased expenditure authority of $186,600 in 1999-00 and $81,500 in 2000-01 and authorize 2.0 four-year project positions (geographic data professionals) in the Division of Information Technology Services continuing appropriation. These recommended resources would support a project to develop standardized geographic information system data for use by municipalities in assessing real property. The recommended funding would support the GIS staff and first year one-time permanent property costs ($84,800 in 1999-00 and $81,500 in 2000-01) and software purchase and licensing costs ($101,800 in 1999-00). Funding for these expenditures would come from charges to state agencies for their use of state computer utility services.
Joint Finance/Legislature: Delete provision.
4. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES -- SOFTWARE LICENSING FEES
PR $300,000
Governor/Legislature: Provide $150,000 annually to pay for DOA biennial software licensing fees. The funding would be used for the licensing fees of software applications and operating systems for 850 workstations in the Department. Funding for these licenses are recovered through assessments of other DOA divisions for technology expenses incurred by Office of Computer Services in DOA’s Division of Administrative Services.
5. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT FUND ADMINISTRATION [LFB Paper 580]
Governor: Make adjustments of -$121,300 GPR and $121,300 SEG annually for the administrative costs of the information technology investment fund (ITIF), including costs of the vendor database and the VendorNet web site. In 1997 Act 27, a GPR appropriation for ITIF administration was created but this appropriation will sunset on June 30, 1999. The Governor recommends that SEG funding directly from the ITIF be used to support administrative costs in the 1999-01 biennium. Funding for the ITIF is generated from an annual fee charged vendors who wish to automatically be notified of state bids in particular commodity areas and to have on-line access to bid specifications and vendor information.
Joint Finance/Legislature: Reduce funding for ITIF administration by $31,100 SEG annually. In addition, repeal the ITIF grants program, rename the ITIF to be the VendorNet fund and utilize funding from the renamed fund for VendorNet administration.
[Act 9 Sections: 81m, 528m, 697m, 717g, 717r and 9401(7g)]
6. TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT -- SMALL AGENCY INTERNET SUPPORT [LFB Paper 141]
Positions
PR 1.00
Governor: Authorize 1.0 PR position annually in the Division of Technology Management to provide assistance to small agencies for issues related to internet usage but funded by Division of Information Technology Services. This position was originally created as a project position ending on June 30, 1999. The project position is removed as a noncontinuing item in the standard budget adjustments. Since the computer utility is funded from a continuing appropriation, no increase in funding was provided when the position was created. The annual budgeted cost for the position in 1998-99 is $56,300. Funding to support the recommended position would be provided from charges to state agencies for their use of the state computer utility services.
Senate: Modify the Joint Finance recommendation by deleting 1.0 existing vacant information technology specialist network consultant position and reduce funding by $63,500 annually.
Conference Committee/Legislature: Include Joint Finance provision.
7. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES -- ROUTER MANAGEMENT
Governor/Legislature: Transfer $67,600 PR and 1.0 PR position (information specialist--enterprise network specialist) annually associated with information technology router management from the Division of Technology Management to the Division of Information Technology Service (DITS). Funding to support the position in DITS would be provided from charges to state agencies for their use of computer utility services.
Agency Services
1. CONSOLIDATION OF PROGRAM REVENUE APPROPRIATIONS [LFB Paper 145]
Governor: Consolidate four currently separate sum certain PR appropriations into a single appropriation. The separate appropriations that would be consolidated, and the adjusted base level funding for those appropriations, are as follows: (a) materials and services to state agencies and certain districts ($4,858,200 PR); (b) transportation services ($14,149,600 PR); (c) printing, document sales, mail distribution and record services ($18,334,500 PR); and (d) financial services ($8,990,900 PR). The separate transportation services, financial services and printing, document sales, mail distribution and record services appropriations would be transferred into the materials and services to state agencies appropriation. Recommended funding for this new appropriation (consolidated base level funding plus recommended increases) is $50,356,800 PR in 1999-00 and $51,377,900 PR in 2000-01). Revenues for these appropriations are generated by fees charged to agencies for services provided by DOA.
Provide that the unencumbered balances of the three appropriations to be consolidated (transportation services, printing, document sales, mail distribution and record services, and financial services) be transferred to the consolidated materials and services to state agencies appropriation on the general effective date of the budget bill and the dollar amount appropriated for the materials and services appropriation in 1999-00 be increased by the amount of the transferred unencumbered balances. Lastly, shift funding for the Treasurer's Office, previously provided out of the financial services appropriation, to be funded under the consolidated appropriation.
Joint Finance/Legislature: Delete provision.
2. STATE AGENCY SERVICES -- REPEAL RECYCLING ACTIVITIES [LFB Paper 723]
Funding Positions
SEG - $264,000 - 2.50
Governor/Legislature: Provide a reduction of $132,000 annually and 2.5 positions currently used for the development and enforcement of state procurement policy regarding recycled materials and supplies. The eliminated funds represent salary and fringe benefit costs for a procurement supervisor (-0.5 position), a procurement specialist (-1.0 position), and a program assistant (-1.0 position). The funding source for these positions is from the recycling fund. Revenues for this fund come from a temporary recycling surcharge on most businesses. This surcharge ends beginning with the tax years that end after April 1, 1999.
In addition to the funding reduction, repeal the following statutory requirements currently associated with DOA's resource recovery and recycling program: (a) the requirement to annually report to the Governor and to the chief clerk of each house of the Legislature on the program; (b) the requirement for agencies, authorities and participating local governmental units to biennially submit recommendations to DOA regarding the operation of the program; (c) the requirement for DOA to maintain a clearinghouse of information on recycled products available for purchase by governmental agencies; and (d) the requirement for DOA to annually submit a report to the Recycling Market Development Board regarding the activities of the program (under current law this last requirement would expire on June 30, 2001). The appropriation from the recycling fund to support these activities is also repealed. These repeals would all be effective on the general effective date of the budget bill.
[Act 9 Sections: 44, 84, 528, 1619, 1620 and 3262]
