The Honorable, The Legislature:
This report is transmitted as required by sec. 20.002(11)(f) of the Wisconsin Statutes, (for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under sec. 13.172(3) Stats.), and confirms that the Department of Administration has found it necessary to exercise the "temporary reallocation of balances" authority provided by this section in order to meet payment responsibilities and cover resulting negative balances during the month of August 2000.
On August 1, 2000 the Wisconsin Health Education Loan Repayment Fund balance was -$1 thousand. This shortfall increased to -$3 thousand on August 2, 2000 and continued into the month of September. As of the date of this letter, it is expected to be resolved soon. This shortfall was due to the timing of revenues.
On August 7, 2000 the University Trust-Income Fund balance was -$186 thousand. This shortfall increased to -$235 thousand on August 9, 2000 and to -$252 thousand on August 10, 2000. This shortfall continued until August 11, 2000 when the balance reached $2.38 million. This shortfall was due to the timing of revenues.
On August 23, 2000 the Common School Income Fund balance was -$5.45 million. This shortfall continued until August 31, 2000 when the balance reached $3.55 million. This shortfall was due to the timing of revenues.
The Wisconsin health Education Loan Repayment Fund, University Trust-Income Fund, and Common School Income Fund shortfalls were not in excess of the statutory interfund borrowing limitation and did not exceed the balances of the funds available for interfund borrowing.
The distribution of interest earnings to investment pool participants is based on the average daily balance in the pool and each fund's share. Therefore, the monthly calculation by the State Controller's Office will automatically reflect the use of these temporary reallocations of balance authority.
Sincerely,
George Lightbourn
Secretary
Referred to the joint committee on Finance.
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
October 12, 2000
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We have completed an evaluation of the Department of Workforce Development's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, as requested by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. In state fiscal year (FY) 1999-2000, the Vocational Rehabilitation program spent $66.3 million, including $10.6 million in general purpose revenue, to serve approximately 35,000 disabled individuals.
We analyzed the program's success in serving the disabled and found that in federal fiscal year (FFY) 1998-99, 4,155 program participants were successfully rehabilitated, which represents a 17.6 percent decline from the 5,042 participants who were rehabilitated in FFY 1994-95. We also found examples of unequal treatment of participants eligible for similar services and unexpected variation in program expenditures among the Division's districts.
Significant improvements are needed to better manage the program's finances. In part because of inadequate management and financial planning, the Department announced in May 2000 that the program faced a $7.5 million projected funding shortfall. To conserve funds, the Department made changes to the service-delivery process, but this resulted in service disruptions to program participants. The Department ceased to provide program services to new participants in August 2000. It is unclear when the program will have sufficient funds to begin serving individuals who have applied since August 2000.
The Department contracts with other public agencies to provide some services to program participants. The value of these contracts increased from $2.9 million in FFY 1994-95 to $8.1 million in FY 1999-2000. The Department does not maintain the management information needed to oversee these contracts effectively, and we found that contracts have not consistently resulted in cost-effective service delivery.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the Department of Workforce Development. The Department's response is Appendix III.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
Department of Revenue
October 16, 2000
The Honorable, The Legislature:
I am submitting the quarterly report of the Wisconsin Lottery for the quarter ending September 30, 2000. As required by s.
565.37(3), Wis. Stats., the attached materials contain unaudited Wisconsin Lottery year to date Sales and Expenditure information.
S684
The summary information reported here is not intended to be a complete financial accounting of the Wisconsin Lottery Fund.
If you have any questions or comments regarding this report, please feel free to contact me at (608) 266-6466.
Sincerely,
Cate Zeuske
Secretary of Revenue
State of Wisconsin
Ethics Board
October 17, 2000
The Honorable, The Senate:
The following lobbyists have been authorized to act on behalf of the organizations set opposite their names.
For more detailed information about these lobbyists and organizations and a complete list of organizations and people authorized to lobby the 1999 session of the legislature, visit the Ethics Board's web site at
http://ethics.state.wi.us
Koenecke, Mary Glaxo Wellcome Inc
Tenuta, James Wisconsin State Telecommunications Association
Also available from the Wisconsin Ethics Board are reports identifying the amount and value of time state agencies have spent to affect legislative action and reports of expenditures for lobbying activities filed by the organizations that employ lobbyists.
Sincerely,
Roth Judd
Director
__________________
Relating to reclaiming and recycling refrigerant for mobile air conditioners.
Submitted by Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Report received from Agency, October 12, 2000.
Referred to committee on Agriculture, Environmental Resources and Campaign Finance Reform, October 18, 2000.
Relating to petroleum environmental cleanup fund interagency responsibilities. [Covered in Report on
Clearinghouse Rule 00-90.]
Submitted by Department of Commerce.
Report received from Agency, October 13, 2000.
Referred to committee on Agriculture, Environmental Resources and Campaign Finance Reform, October 18, 2000.
__________________
The committee on Economic Development, Housing and Government Operations reports and recommends:
Relating to inspection of and permits to operate elevators and other mechanical lifting devices.
No action taken.
Robert Wirch
Chair
