The Honorable, The Senate:
Pursuant to Senate Rule
20(2)(a), I have appointed Senator Carol Roessler to the Senate Committee on Privacy, Electronic Commerce and Financial Institutions.
With regards to members of the minority party, the appointment reflects the nomination of that caucus.
Sincerely,
Chuck Chvala
Chair, Committee on Senate Organization
State of Wisconsin
Department of Revenue
November 29, 2000
The Honorable, The Senate:
In accordance with section 71.55(10)(e), Wis. Stats. (1997-98), I am enclosing copies of the Department of Revenue reports on distribution of enrollment cards for the Wisconsin State Medical Society "Partnercare" program.
Sincerely,
Cate Zeuske
Secretary
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
December 5, 2000
The Honorable, The Senate:
We have completed a financial audit of the Unemployment Reserve Fund for fiscal years 1999-2000 and 1998-99. This audit was performed at the request of the Department of Workforce Development, which administers the Fund.
As necessary parts of the financial audit, we reviewed the Fund's control procedures, assessed the fair presentation of its financial statements, and reviewed compliance with applicable laws and regulations. We were able to provide an unqualified auditor's report on the Fund's financial statement, and we found no instances of material weaknesses in the internal control structure or material instances of noncompliance.
The Unemployment Reserve Fund's cash balance related to taxable employers increased $83 million during the past fiscal year, to nearly $1.8 billion as of June 30, 2000. This cash balance is used to determine the tax rate schedule to apply to taxable employers. Since the cash reserves exceed the amount that allows employers to be taxed under the lowest rate schedule, the Fund is able to charge employers the lowest authorized tax rates.
Copies of the report have been distributed to members of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee and those required by law to receive them. If you are interested in receiving a copy of this report, please contact our office and request report number 00-14. The report is also available on line at
www.legis.state.wi.us\lab\windex.htm.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
Ethics Board
December 5, 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
Kay, Jason AARP
Kuehn, Ronald W Dells Boat Company, Inc.
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
State of Wisconsin
Claims Board
July 27, 2000
The Honorable, The Senate:
Enclosed is the report of the State Claims Board covering the claims heard on June 27, 2000.
The amounts recommended for payment under $5,000 on claims included in this report have, under the provisions of s.
16.007, Stats., been paid directly by the Board.
The Board is preparing the bill(s) on the recommended award(s) over $5,000, if any, and will submit such to the Joint Finance Committee for legislative introduction.
This report is for the information of the Legislature. The Board would appreciate your acceptance and spreading of it upon the Journal to inform the members of the Legislature.
Sincerely,
Edward D. Main
STATE OF WISCONSIN CLAIMS BOARD
The State Claims Board conducted hearings in the State Capitol, Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall, Madison, Wisconsin, on June 27, 2000, upon the following claims:
Claimant Agency Amount
In addition, the following claims were considered and decided without hearings:
Claimant Agency Amount
In addition, the following claim, which was previously presented and decided at hearing, was reconsidered and decided without hearing:
Claimant Agency Amount
In addition, the board considered the question of whether or not to hold a hearing for the following claim prior to resolution of legal appeals.
Claimant Agency
The Board Finds:
1. Roque Chavez of Waukesha, Wisconsin, claims $3,306.18 for auto damage allegedly caused in an accident with a state employee in March 1999. The Claimant states that a state driver failed to give him the right of way and caused the accident. The claimant alleges that his vehicle, a 1986 Isuzu, had completely body restoration in 1997 and a new motor, clutch, and exhaust installed in 1998. He requests reimbursement for the estimated cost of repairs, $3,306.18.
The Department of Transportation recommends payment of this claim in the reduced amount of $570.00. The accident occurred at the intersection of E. St. Paul Ave. and Union St. in Waukesha, WI. The state driver was attempting to cross E. St. Paul Ave. from his residence a short block from the intersection. The state driver was approximately 3/4 of the way across E. St. Paul Ave. when the claimant struck his vehicle. The claimant does not carry any insurance on his vehicle. The claimant submitted two repair estimates, both of which exceeded the value of the vehicle. The claimant's vehicle is over 13 years old with well over 100,000 miles on the body. The claimant alleges that the vehicle had extensive repair and restoration several years ago, however, he has offered no documentation of these repairs, nor has he submitted a certified appraisal proving that the value of his vehicle prior t the accident. The DOT states that one of the repair estimates submitted by the claimant indicated that the general condition of the vehicle was "poor". The Kelly Blue Book value of the claimant's vehicle (trade-in value, fair condition) is $670. The amount of the settlement for totaled vehicles is the Blue Book value minus the salvage value of the vehicle. The submitted salvage bid was $100.
The Board concludes the claim should be paid in the reduced amount of $1,170.00 based on equitable principles. The Board further concludes, under authority of s.
16.007(6m), Stats., payment should be made from the Department of Transportation appropriation s.
20.395(4)(er), Stats.
2. Veaster Tillmon, Jr. of Tucker, Arkansas, claims $2,997.42 for overpayment of state income taxes for the years 1981, 1988, 1989 and 1990. The Department of Revenue garnished the claimant's wages from September 1992 until June 1993. The claimant states that he was not a Wisconsin resident during the years in question and believes that, in fairness, the money taken by the DOR should be returned to him.
