To the Honorable, the Assembly:
A967
This report is being submitted in accordance with Section
23.0955(2), Wisconsin Statutes, which requires the Department to report on and evaluate accomplishments and activities resulting from a capacity building grant awarded annually to a nonprofit organization. The legislation also requires that we make a recommendation regarding continuation of the grant.
The purpose of the grant is to support nonprofit conservation organizations. It has been awarded annually to Gathering Waters Conservancy. As the report shows, Gathering Waters has used the funds to expand private resource conservation in Wisconsin. The grant has been an excellent investment that will have a positive long-term impact on the state's natural resources. For this reason, we are pleased to recommend continuation of the grant at the current level of $150,000 per year.
If you need additional information, please contact Janet Beach Hanson at (608) 266-0868. She can answer any specific questions you have about the grant.
Sincerely,
Scott Hassett
Secretary
Referred to committee on Natural Resources.
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Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
June 22, 2004
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
We are required by s.
13.94 (1)(dm), Wis. Stats., to conduct an annual financial audit of State Fair Park. In 2003 (report 03-11), we were unable to render an audit opinion because State Fair Park could not provide complete and accurate financial statements for fiscal year (FY) 2001-02. State Fair Park later contracted with a private accounting firm to compile its financial statements for both FY 2001-02 and FY 2002-03. We have issued unqualified audit opinions for each year, and FY 2002-03 statements are included in this report. We also followed up on our 2003 recommendations regarding improvements to State Fair Park's financial operations.
In our 2003 report, we found that State Fair Park's financial condition continued to deteriorate through FY 2002-03, when total expenses, including a required $2.4 million lapse to the State's General Fund, exceeded revenues by $4.5 million. Our 2003 report also noted that poor business planning and overly optimistic financial projections for three fairgrounds activities or entities - the Milwaukee Mile, the new Wisconsin Exposition Center, and the Pettit National Ice Center - contributed to State Fair Park's FY 2002-03 deficit. As we recommended, all three entities subsequently prepared business plans for 2004.
Considering these business plans, State Fair Park projects that in FY 2003-04, overall revenues will exceed expenses by nearly $195,000. However, through May 2004, total expenses exceeded revenues by $2.1 million. State Fair Park anticipates that additional revenue related to the August 2004 State Fair and two major racing events will be received in the last month of FY 2003-04. Its financial projections for FY 2003-04 also rely on a strong performance by the Milwaukee Mile, reduced losses from non-fair events, and significant revenues from sponsorships and naming rights. As State Fair Park moves forward, we believe initial 2004 business plans will need to be refined and modified to ensure financial projections are reasonable and that staffing issues for all entities are efficiently addressed.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the staff of State Fair Park. A response from State Fair Park's chief executive officer follows the appendix.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
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State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
June 29, 2004
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
We have completed an evaluation of restorative justice programs in Milwaukee and Outagamie counties, as required by
2001 Wisconsin Act 16. Two assistant district attorney positions created by Act 16 serve as restorative justice coordinators in the two counties. In fiscal year (FY) 2002-03, $100,600 in state and federal funding was spent on these programs.
The two counties' restorative justice programs achieved modest success through 2003. For example, the number of participating offenders increased from 461 in 2002 to 520 in 2003. In addition, encouraging results related to recidivism were reported for some of the programs. We independently calculated recidivism rates for one Milwaukee County program and found that 8.8 percent of participating offenders with no prior convictions committed another criminal offense within one year of participation, compared to 27.6 percent of nonparticipating offenders in a control group. We noted concerns with Outagamie County's calculations of recidivism rates, and we could not independently calculate the rates for its programs.
Act 16 stipulated that funding for the two restorative justice coordinator positions will end with FY 2004-05. We noted, however, that at least 11 other counties have restorative justice programs that are funded differently from those in Milwaukee and Outagamie counties. We provide funding alternatives for consideration, should the Legislature wish to consider the future of the positions in its 2005-07 biennial budget deliberations.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the Milwaukee and Outagamie County district attorneys' offices. Their responses follow the appendix.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
