To the Honorable, the Legislature:
We have completed a review of local transit systems' contracts with University of Wisconsin (UW) campuses, as directed by
1997 Wisconsin Act 27. While 16 UW campuses are currently served by mass transit systems, only the two largest campuses, UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee, have contracted for extensive service through bus pass programs that allow students unlimited access to local bus routes.
UW-Milwaukee first contracted for a student bus pass program in the 1994-95 academic year. Since the program's inception, costs have increased by 33.4 percent, from $1,152,000 in the 1994-95 academic year to $1,537,000 in 1998-99. In four of the five years since the program began, contract revenues and revenue from state and federal aid fully covered program costs.
UW-Madison's student bus pass program began in the 1996-97 academic year. Excluding start-up expenses, costs have increased by less than one percent, from $1,377,000 in 1996-97 to $1,385,000 in 1998-99. Contract and aid revenues fell short of costs in each year, and the amount of the estimated shortfall was $111,000 in 1998-99. Local revenues have made up the shortfall.
Transit system and UW representatives believe the student bus pass programs have many benefits, including increasing bus ridership, alleviating parking concerns, and reducing traffic congestion. However, affected local communities may wish to re-evaluate the continuing use of local revenue to support these programs, taking into account both their costs and the local benefits they provide. Similarly, the Legislature may wish to note its contribution to these programs. In 1998-99, $387,000 in state and federal mass transit aid was used to support the cost of UW-Milwaukee's and UW-Madison's student bus pass programs, and an additional $1,380,000 in state and federal aid was used to support an intra-campus bus route operating exclusively on the UW-Madison campus.
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We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the Milwaukee County Transit System, Madison Metro Transit System, and other systems throughout the state, as well as officials from UW-Milwaukee, UW-Madison, and other campuses. Responses have been provided by the University of Wisconsin and the Madison Metro Transit System; they are Appendices I and II.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
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Representative Vrakas asked unanimous consent that the Assembly stand recessed. Granted.
The Assembly stood recessed.
10:05 A.M.
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12:01 P.M.
The Assembly reconvened.
Representative Duff in the chair.
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Representative Vrakas asked unanimous consent for a leave of absence for Representative Ladwig for part of today's session. Granted.
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Assembly Joint Resolution 45
Relating to: memorializing Congress to not reduce the number of beds for intensive care and surgery at the Veteran's Administration's Medical Center at Iron Mountain, Michigan.
The question was: Shall Assembly Joint Resolution
45 be adopted?
Motion carried.
Representative Vrakas asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Joint Resolution 45 be immediately messaged to the Senate. Granted.
Assembly Bill 234
Relating to: qualification of candidates for justice of the supreme court for grants from the Wisconsin election campaign fund, court fees and making an appropriation.
Representative Freese asked unanimous consent that Assembly Bill 234 be placed at the foot of today's calendar. Granted.
Assembly Bill 235
Relating to: false reporting of certain disbursements and obligations under the campaign finance law and providing a penalty.
The question was: Shall Assembly Bill 235 be ordered engrossed and read a third time?
Motion carried.
Representative Vrakas asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Bill
235 be given a third reading. Granted.
The question was: Shall Assembly Bill 235 having been read three times, shall the bill be passed?
The roll was taken.
The result follows:
Ayes - Representatives Ainsworth, Albers, Brandemuehl, Duff, Foti, Freese, Gard, Goetsch, Gunderson, Hahn, Handrick, Huebsch, Hundertmark, Jeskewitz, Kaufert, Kedzie, Kelso, Kestell, Klusman, Kreuser, F. Lasee, M. Lehman, Montgomery, Musser, Nass, Olsen, Owens, Petrowski, Plouff, Porter, Powers, Rhoades, Schooff, Skindrud, Spillner, Steinbrink, Stone, Townsend, Travis, Underheim, Urban, Vrakas, Ward, Waukau, Wood and Speaker Jensen - 46.
Noes - Representatives Balow, Berceau, Black, Bock, Boyle, Carpenter, Coggs, Colon, Cullen, Gronemus, Grothman, Gundrum, Hasenohrl, Hebl, Hoven, Huber, Hubler, Hutchison, Johnsrud, Kreibich, Krug, Krusick, La Fave, Lassa, J. Lehman, Leibham, Meyer, Meyerhofer, Miller, Morris-Tatum, Ott, Pettis, Plale, Pocan, Reynolds, Richards, Riley, Ryba, Schneider, Seratti, Sherman, Sinicki, Staskunas, Suder, Sykora, Turner, Walker, Wasserman, Wieckert, Williams, Young and Ziegelbauer - 52.
Absent or not voting - Representative Ladwig - 1.
Motion failed.
Representative Waukau asked unanimous consent to be recorded as voting "No" on the previous question. Granted.
Representative Petrowski asked unanimous consent to be recorded as voting "No" on the previous question. Granted.
Representative F. Lasee asked unanimous consent to be recorded as voting "No" on the previous question. Granted.
Assembly Bill 238
Relating to: causing injury, death or property damage while under the influence of alcohol and providing a penalty.
Representative Johnsrud asked unanimous consent that Assembly Bill 238 be placed at the foot of today's calendar. Granted.
Assembly Bill 240
Relating to: filing of declarations of candidacy and recording of votes received by write-in candidates in certain elections.
The question was: Shall Assembly Bill 240 be ordered engrossed and read a third time?
Motion carried.
Representative Vrakas asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Bill
240 be given a third reading. Granted.
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The question was:
Assembly Bill 240 having been read three times, shall the bill be passed?
Motion carried.
Representative Vrakas asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Bill
240 be immediately messaged to the Senate. Granted.
Assembly Bill 337
Relating to: payment and amounts of fees for recounts of elections.
The question was: Shall Assembly Bill 337 be ordered engrossed and read a third time?
Motion carried.
Representative Vrakas asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Bill
337 be given a third reading. Granted.
The question was: Assembly Bill 337 having been read three times, shall the bill be passed?
The roll was taken.
The result follows:
Ayes - Representatives Ainsworth, Albers, Balow, Berceau, Black, Bock, Boyle, Brandemuehl, Carpenter, Coggs, Colon, Cullen, Duff, Foti, Freese, Gard, Goetsch, Gronemus, Grothman, Gunderson, Gundrum, Hahn, Handrick, Hasenohrl, Hebl, Hoven, Huber, Hubler, Huebsch, Hundertmark, Hutchison, Jeskewitz, Johnsrud, Kaufert, Kedzie, Kelso, Kestell, Klusman, Kreibich, Kreuser, Krug, Krusick, La Fave, F. Lasee, Lassa, J. Lehman, M. Lehman, Leibham, Meyer, Meyerhofer, Miller, Montgomery, Morris-Tatum, Musser, Nass, Olsen, Ott, Owens, Petrowski, Pettis, Plale, Plouff, Pocan, Porter, Powers, Reynolds, Rhoades, Richards, Riley, Ryba, Schooff, Seratti, Sherman, Sinicki, Skindrud, Spillner, Staskunas, Steinbrink, Stone, Suder, Sykora, Townsend, Travis, Turner, Underheim, Urban, Vrakas, Walker, Ward, Wasserman, Waukau, Wieckert, Williams, Wood, Young, Ziegelbauer and Speaker Jensen - 97.
Noes - Representative Schneider - 1.
Absent or not voting - Representative Ladwig - 1.
Motion carried.
Representative Vrakas asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Bill
337 be immediately messaged to the Senate. Granted.
Assembly Bill 363
Relating to: the composition of municipal boards of canvassers in certain municipalities.
The question was: Shall Assembly Bill 363 be ordered engrossed and read a third time?
Motion carried.
Representative Vrakas asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Bill
363 be given a third reading. Granted.
The question was: Assembly Bill 363 having been read three times, shall the bill be passed?
Motion carried.
Representative Vrakas asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Bill
363 be immediately messaged to the Senate. Granted.
Assembly Bill 416
Relating to: reporting of information by nonresident registrants under the campaign finance law.
The question was: Shall Assembly Bill 416 be ordered engrossed and read a third time?
Motion carried.
Representative Vrakas asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Bill
416 be given a third reading. Granted.
The question was: Assembly Bill 416 having been read three times, shall the bill be passed?
Motion carried.
Representative Vrakas asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Bill
416 be immediately messaged to the Senate. Granted.
Assembly Bill 429
Relating to: the placement of water ski platforms and jumps.
Representative Vrakas asked unanimous consent that Assembly Bill 429 be rereferred to the committee on Natural Resources. Granted.
