The Honorable, The Legislature:
I am pleased to submit the Final Report of the Governor's Airport Financing Committee, which was developed by dedicated representatives of the Department of Transportation, the Department of Commerce, airport managers, airlines serving this state, the general aviation community, the people of this state, and private businesses with an interest in transportation policy and financing. I think you will find that the hard work of the Committee has resulted in a thorough discussion of the issues related to airport needs and financing in Wisconsin.
The Governor's Airport Financing Committee was created in the 2001-2003 Biennial Budget (
2001 Wisconsin Act 16) in response to challenges encountered by the Governor, the Legislature and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) during the budget process. Wisconsin Act 16 charged the Committee:
to review and evaluate the state's airport system needs and the current system of funding those needs and to recommend changes, if any, to better meet those needs;
to evaluate, among other things: aircraft registration fees; aviation fuel taxes and fees; allocation of sales tax receipts from the sale of aircraft, parts, and services; and the allocation of other moneys for airport financing:
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to make recommendations, if any, to generate revenue in amounts equal to or greater than the sum of moneys appropriated for aeronautical activities in fiscal year 2002.
The Committee met on five occasions between April and December 2002 to hear reports on specific aviation finance issues and to discuss alternative ways of meeting Wisconsin's airport financing challenges. The Committee studied topics identified in the Legislature's charge plus other issues identified by individual committee members. A variety of innovative aviation revenue initiatives were discussed, and the Committee set goals and criteria to evaluate proposed revenue initiatives.
The final months of the Committee's process were dedicated to evaluating revenue options to determine how best to meet both near-term and more long-term airport needs in Wisconsin. The recommendations of the report address the near and long-term aviation revenue needs of the State and the current system of funding those needs.
A solid transportation infrastructure is important to Wisconsin, and public airports in Wisconsin represent an essential part of that infrastructure. We are ready to assist you in any way possible as you tackle the challenging task of addressing our airport needs.
Sincerely,
Patrick O. Goss
Deputy Secretary
Airport Financing Committee Chair
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
January 6, 2003
The Honorable, The Senate:
Please withdraw the following appointments that are pending in the Senate:
Bernie A. Abrahamson
Raymond Allen
Beverly J. Anderson
Gordon R. Baldwin
Herbert F. Behnke
Charles E. Bena
Daniel P. Blask
Lorraine M. Blaubach
Robert C. Blessington
Rose E. Boron
Mark T. Braden
Richard A. Brock
DeAnn L. Brosman
Ritchie J. Brown
Paul E. Bucher
Thom A. Ciske
J. Michael Clumpner
Hector Colon
William Cress
Dr. JoAnn Noe Cross
Kay M. Czaplewski
Jan D'Amico-Dove
Philip J. Dahlberg
Andrew S. Diercks
James W. Dorn
Ronald C. Engelke (2)
Larry Erickson
David B. Falstad
Dr. Dennis Farrar
John Farrow
Edward F. Fenhaus
Larry T. Finley
Nicole M. Gladney
William N. Godfrey
Richard Graber
Dr. Kerry L. Griebenow
Dr. Leon D. Griffin
Bill L. Gronley (2)
Dr. L. Kevin Hamberger
Jon D. Hammes (State of Wisconsin Investment Board only)
Muriel J. Harper
Sandra K. Heidel
Tee Heiser
Dr. Jean M. Heyt-Thompson
Greg A. Hilbert
James A. Holte
Gilbert L. Homstad
David R. Huebsch
Margaret B. Humleker
Cynthia L. Jarvis
Norbert J. Johnson
Ruth G. Johnson
Marilyn A. Kaufmann
Michael A. Keever
Thomas J. Kilkenny
James R. Klauser
JoAnn Kleman
Douglas L. Klitzkie
John W. Knuteson
Phyllis J. Krutsch
David Ladd
Clifford F. LeCleir
Harold (Hal) N. Lee
Brian S. Levy
Thomas A. Lisle
Jon E. Litscher
Dr. Thomas J. Luetzow
William S. Lundberg
Lee Madden
Edward D. Main
Ronald K. Malone