State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
June 27, 2002
The Honorable, The Legislature:
S762
As required by s.
13.94(1)(dm), Wis. Stats., we have completed our first annual financial audit of the State Fair Park, which is administered by a 13-member board and is attached to the Department of Tourism for administrative purposes. We have issued an unqualified opinion on State Fair Park's fiscal year (FY) 2000-01 financial statements. We found that State Fair Park's total revenues increased 21.9 percent, from $13.1 million in FY 1995-96 to $15.9 million in FY 2000-01. However, total expenditures increased at a greater rate and exceeded revenues in three of the last six fiscal years. The Pettit National Ice Center's failure to make $371,785 in rent payments contributed to a FY 2000-01 deficit, but even if all rent payments had been made, the increase in State Fair Park's expenditures still would have outpaced the increase in its revenues.
Expenditures increased largely because construction of new facilities and improvements to existing facilities increased debt service costs. From FY 1995-96 through FY 2000-01, State Fair Park incurred $12.7 million in construction costs that will be repaid with program revenue, and its annual debt service costs increased 72.1 percent, from nearly $1.2 million to $2.0 million. State general purpose revenue (GPR) funded an additional $17.1 million in construction costs, and GPR debt service payments will be approximately $1.0 million annually through FY 2016-17. State Fair Park is assuming additional debt by undertaking an aggressive building program to renovate and replace other aging facilities. It will include a new exposition center, which is being built and will be managed by a not-for—profit corporation created by the State Fair Park Board; a renovated Milwaukee Mile grandstand; a new building known as the Wisconsin Heritage Hall, which will serve as a showcase for Wisconsin products; and the Agriculture Village, which will include new or remodeled livestock facilities.
Successful changes to fairgrounds operations and major facilities improvements may allow State Fair Park to become fore financially secure in the future. However, even though all of the new building projects except the Agriculture Village are expected to be self-supporting, debt associated with the building program may represent additional financial risk for both State Fair Park and the State. Efforts to privatize operations, such as the creation of the exposition center's not-for-profit corporation, are increasing State Fair Park's independence at the same time the State is assuming additional financial risk. Consequently, the Legislature may wish to ensure it retains adequate oversight of the State's investment in State Fair Park.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by State Fair Park staff. A response from State Fair Park is Appendix 4.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
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State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
June 26, 2002
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Braden
, Mark T.,
of Lake Geneva, as a member of the Dentistry Examining Board, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2006.
Sincerely,
SCOTT McCALLUM
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Health, Utilities, Veterans and Military Affairs.
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
June 27, 2002
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Brown
, Ritchie J.,
of Black River Falls, as a member of the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Board, to serve for the interim term ending May 1, 2003.
Sincerely,
SCOTT McCALLUM
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Environmental Resources.
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
June 26, 2002
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Ciske
, Thom A.,
of Hortonville, as a member of the Fox River Navigational System Authority, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2005.
Sincerely,
SCOTT McCALLUM
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Environmental Resources.
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
June 27, 2002
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Diercks, Andrew S.,
of Coloma, as a member of the Board on Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, to serve for the interim term ending May 1, 2005.
Sincerely,
SCOTT McCALLUM
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Labor and Agriculture.
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
June 26, 2002
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Dorn
, James W.,
of Appleton, as a member of the Examining Board of Architects, Landscape Architects, Professional Engineers, Designers and Land Surveyors, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2006.
Sincerely,
SCOTT McCALLUM
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Universities, Housing, and Government Operations.
Office of the Governor
June 27, 2002
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Nettum
, George E.,
of Viroqua, as a member of the Land and Water Conservation Baord, to serve for the term ending May 1, 2006.
Sincerely,
SCOTT McCALLUM
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Environmental Resources.
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
June 27, 2002
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Nowacki, Richard,
of Pewaukee, as a member of the Land and Water Conservation Board, to serve for the term ending May 1, 2004.
Sincerely,
SCOTT McCALLUM
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Environmental Resources.
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State of Wisconsin
Revisor of Statutes Bureau
July 1, 2002
To the Honorable, the Senate:
The following rules have been published:
Sincerely,
GARY L. POULSON
Deputy Revisor
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Relating to the licensure and regulation of occupational therapists.
Submitted by Department of Regulation and Licensing.
Report received from Agency, June 27, 2002.
Referred to committee on Human Services and Aging, July 3, 2002
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