Sincerely,
JOSEPH KACHELSKI
Vice President
State of Wisconsin
WHA Information Center
June 6, 2006
The Honorable, The Senate:
Enclosed is a hard copy of the fiscal year 2004 Health Care Data Report produced by WHA Information Center pursuant to s.
153.22, Wis. Stats. The report was posted on our Web site in March 2006. Please feel free to download and print additional copies.
If you have any questions regarding the report you may contact me at 608-274-1820, 800-231-8340 or
jkachelski@wha.org.
Sincerely,
JOSEPH KACHELSKI
Vice President
State of Wisconsin
Department of Health of Family Services
June 12, 2006
The Honorable, The Senate:
On behalf of the Board of Governors of the Health Insurance Risk Sharing Plan (HIRSP), I am pleased to submit the calendar year 2005 annual report. This submission is in accordance with the statutory requirements set forth at s.
149.15, Wisconsin Statutes.
The report includes:
• A summary of how HIRSP is funded, who is eligible, what services are covered and policyholder premium, deductible and coinsurance obligations.
• A historical overview and a summary of HIRSP-related legislative changes since 1997.
• Demographic information about HIRSP policyholders.
• An explanation of HIRSP's funding and financial information.
• Utilization and cost data, including summaries of HIRSP payments by diagnosis category and by therapeutic classes of prescription drugs.
The Department of Health and Family Services and the HIRSP Board appreciate the continuing support of the Legislature. Please contact me if I may provide additional information.
Sincerely,
MARK B. MOODY
State of Wisconsin
Ethics Board
June 13, 2006
The Honorable, The Senate:
The following lobbyists have been authorized to act on behalf of the organizations set opposite their names.
Mettner, Joseph AT&TWisconsin (formerly SBC)
For more detailed information about these lobbyists and organizations and a complete list of organizations and people authorized to lobby the 2005 session of the legislature, visit the Ethics Board's web site at
http://ethics.state.wi.us
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 organizations that employ lobbyists.
Sincerely,
R. Roth Judd
Executive Director
State of Wisconsin
Milwaukee Public Schools
June 13, 2006
The Honorable, The Senate:
Enclosed you will find a copy of the report entitled "High/Scope All-Day Five Year-Old Kindergarten Program and High/Scope First Grade Program." This report provides a summary of the project and the data collected for the 2004-2005 school year.
Each year a report is prepared in response to Sections
119.71,
119.73, and
119.75 of the current state statutes.
Sincerely,
MICHELLE J. NATE
Chief Financial and Operations Officer
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
June 16, 2006
The Honorable, The Legislature:
As requested by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, we have completed an evaluation of the two applied technology centers constructed by Gateway Technical College: the Center for Advanced Technology and Innovation (CATI), and the Center for Bioscience and the Integration of Computer and Telecommunications Technology (BioCATT). These centers were constructed at a cost of $7.4 million. Construction funds were obtained from $5.0 million in bonds issued by Gateway, along with both cash and in-kind donations from area businesses.
Technical college construction projects of more than $1.0 million must typically be approved by referendum, but a statutory exception exists for technology centers. However, statutes require at least 30.0 percent of construction costs to be funded with private contributions. This statutory requirement was not met because the value of in-kind contributions has been less than initially projected, and private businesses provided $414,000 less than anticipated in cash donations.
Gateway's governing board chose to contract with two private, nonprofit corporations to manage daily operations of the two centers and provide other services. Contract agreements involving staffing, building maintenance and use, and programming are complex and have been amended frequently. Since the centers opened, Gateway has spent $2.3 million to support facility operations but has received operating revenues of only $106,800. The difference-$2.2 million-has been paid from Gateway funds. Gateway is also expected to incur $1.1 million in bond repayment costs through fiscal year 2005-06. The level of support provided suggests that Gateway should closely monitor the centers' ongoing operations to ensure costs are controlled and revenues maximized.
We reviewed detailed financial documentation and found no instances in which funds from Gateway or either of the nonprofit organizations were improperly paid to an employee of any other organization. However, we question Gateway's decision to enter into a contract with the private organization managing the BioCATT facility for use of four fiber-optic lines. One objective of the agreement was to reduce Gateway's telecommunications costs. However, this contract has not been cost-effective in the short-term. Future financial benefits will largely depend on the ability of BioCATT, Inc., to sell use of additional fiber optic lines.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by staff of Gateway Technical College, the Wisconsin Technical College System Board, and the nonprofit organizations associated with the applied technology centers.
Sincerely,
JANICE MUELLER
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
Ethics Board
June 20, 2006
The Honorable, The Senate:
The following lobbyists have been authorized to act on behalf of the organizations set opposite their names.
Cipriano, Renee Parsons
Gade, Mary Parsons
For more detailed information about these lobbyists and organizations and a complete list of organizations and people authorized to lobby the 2005 session of the legislature, visit the Ethics Board's web site at
http://ethics.state.wi.us
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 organizations that employ lobbyists.
Sincerely,
R. Roth Judd
Executive Director
__________________
Relating to allowing the operation of double bottoms and certain other vehicles on certain specified highways.
Submitted by Department of Transportation.
Withdrawn by Agency, June 20, 2006.
Relating to plant pest import controls and quarantines.
Submitted by Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Report received from Agency, June 20, 2006.
Referred to committee on Agriculture and Insurance, June 20, 2006
.