August 31, 2005
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We have completed an evaluation of the Hunter Education Program, which is administered by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Participation in hunter education is required for anyone who wishes to purchase a hunting license and was born on or after January 1, 1973. In 2004, 3,328 volunteer instructors and 47 wardens, some of whom were paid to teach, provided hunter education to 33,476 students, mostly children.
In fiscal year (FY) 2004-05, DNR spent $1.2 million to administer the Hunter Education Program. Approximately one-half of these costs were for the salaries and fringe benefits associated with 9.6 full-time equivalent employees who recruit and train volunteer instructors and students and provide administrative program support. The remainder was primarily for course materials and reimbursement of allowable instructor expenses. We identified no serious concern with the instructor reimbursement process.
Although a decline has been perceived in the number of volunteer instructors and students, we found increases in the number of volunteer instructors who taught at least one course, the number of courses held, and the number of students who successfully completed the program from 2000 to 2004. The number of hours DNR staff spent on hunter education also increased substantially in FY 2004-05, but not because additional wardens taught courses on paid time. Instead, more DNR staff time was spent on its public relations efforts and to reimburse volunteer instructors for allowable expenses.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by DNR and the instructors we contacted during our review.
Sincerely,
JANICE MUELLER
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
August 31, 2005
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 July 2005.
On July 1, 2005, the General Fund cash balance closed at a negative $262.7 million. The fund's negative cash balance continued intermittently through July 31, 2005, when the fund's cash balance closed at a negative $417.1 million. The General Fund cash balance reached its intramonth low of a negative $522.6 million on July 25, 2005. The negative balance was due to the difference in the timing of revenues and expenditures.
On July 6, 2005, the Medical Assistance Trust Fund cash balance closed at a negative $5.1 million. The fund's negative cash balance continued through July 31, 2005, when the fund's cash balance closed at a negative $2.6 million. The Medical Assistance Trust Fund cash balance closed at its intramonth low of a negative $5.3 million on July 7, 2005. The negative balance was due to the difference in the timing of revenues and expenditures.
On July 27, 2005, the Wisconsin Health Education Loan Repayment Fund cash balance closed at its intramonth low of a negative $3 thousand. This negative balance continued until July 28, 2005, when the fund's cash balance closed at a positive $22 thousand. The negative balance was due to the difference in the timing of revenues and expenditures.
The General fund, Medical Assistance Trust Fund, and the Wisconsin Health Education Loan Repayment Fund shortfalls were not in excess of the statutory interfund borrowing limitations 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, and as a result, the funds requiring the use of the authority will effectively bear the interest cost.
Sincerely,
Marc J. Marotta
Secretary
Referred to joint committee on Finance.
State of Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources
Department of Administration
August 24, 2005
The Honorable, The Legislature:
Attached to this letter is the Environmental Improvement Fund Biennial Finance Plan for the 2005-2007 biennium.
S335
Environmental Improvement fund program legislation (s.
281.59(3), Wis. Stats.) requires the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Administration to submit the final version of the Biennial Finance Plan to the Legislature and to the State Building Commission following enactment of the biennial budget. The purpose of the plan is to provide information on loan, loan subsidy, and bonding levels for program operations in the 2005-2007 biennium.
If you have any questions regarding the Biennial Finance Plan, please contact Robert Ramharter at 266-3915 or Frank Hoadley at 266-2305.
Sincerely,
MICHELE A. YOUNG
Bureau of Community Financial Assistance
Department of Natural Resources
FRANK R. HOADLEY
Capital Finance Director
Department of Administration
State of Wisconsin
Department of Public Instruction
August 29, 2005
The Honorable, The Legislature:
Enclosed is a copy of the "Legislative Report on Video Cameras on School Buses and Training of Bus and Alternative Vehicle Operators" as required by Section 30(4) of
2003 Wisconsin Act 280. The report is submitted to you as required by sec. 13.172(2), Wis. Stats.
Sincerely,
ELIZABETH BURMASTER
Department of Public Instruction
State of Wisconsin
Groundwater Coordinating Council
August, 2005
The Honorable, The Legislature:
The Groundwater Coordinating Council (GCC) is pleased to release its 2005 Report to the Legislature. The GCC was formed in 1984 to help state agencies coordinate non-regulatory activities and exchange information on groundwater. For the past 20 years, the GCC has served as a model for interagency coordination and cooperation among state agencies, the Governor, local and federal government, and the university. It is one of the few groups in the nation to effectively coordinate groundwater activities in its state from an advisory position.
This report summarizes GCC and agency activities related to groundwater protection and management in FY 05 (July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005) and provides an overview of the condition of the groundwater resource. See the Executive Summary for highlights and the GCC's recommendations in Future Directions for Groundwater Protection. The full report is available online at:
Highlights of the State's groundwater protection activities this past year include:
• Organizing the first meetings of the Groundwater Advisory Committee and taking other steps to begin implementation of the new groundwater legislation
2003 Wisconsin Act 310.
• Completion of source water assessments for all 11,500 public water supply systems in Wisconsin;
• Incorporation of Wisconsin's groundwater monitoring strategy, including both quantity and quality needs, into the state's water monitoring plan;
• Developing a Groundwater Information Network email list to share information with a broad range of agencies and organizations interested or involved in groundwater education.
• Continued efforts through participation in teacher workshops, a groundwater festival for students, Farm Technology Days, county groundwater programs and other opportunities to share with others the importance of protecting groundwater.
We hope you will find this report to be a useful reference in protecting Wisconsin's valuable groundwater resource.
Sincerely,
TODD AMBS
Chair, Groundwater Coordinating Council
Pursuant to Senate Rule
17 (5), Senator Risser removed as a coauthor of
Senate Bill 268.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
August 24, 2005
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Browne
, Bryant,
of Stevens Point, as a member of the Examining Board of Professional Geologists, Hydrologists and Soil Scientists, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2009.
Sincerely,
JIM DOYLE
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Natural Resources and Transportation.
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
August 29, 2005
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Okey
, Louis,
of Cassville, as a member of the Rural Health Development Council, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2010.
Sincerely,
JIM DOYLE
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Health, Children, Families, Aging and Long Term Care.
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
August 29, 2005
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint DeCicco, Julia,
of Milwaukee, 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, 2007.
