To committee on Financial Institutions
.
__________________
The joint committee on Finance reports and recommends:
Assembly Bill 232
Relating to: the amount of the exemption from income tax withholding requirements for employees of a county fair association.
Passage:
Ayes: 16 - Representatives Rhoades, Meyer, Stone, Kestell, Suder, Vos, Pocan and Colon; Senators
Miller, Hansen, Taylor, Lehman, Robson, Lassa, Darling and Olsen.
Noes: 0.
Kitty Rhoades
Assembly Chairperson
Joint Committee on Finance
__________________
January 28, 2008
Patrick Fuller
Assembly Chief Clerk
17 West Main Street, Suite 401
Madison, WI 53708
Dear Chief Clerk Fuller:
Please remove my name as a co‐sponsor of 2007 Assembly Bill 651 relating to the statute of limitations for sexual contact with a child.
Sincerely,
Robin J. Vos
State Representative
63rd Assembly District
__________________
January 29, 2008
Representative Mike Huebsch
Wisconsin State Assembly Speaker
Room 215 West
State Capitol
Madison, WI 53708
Speaker Huebsch:
Let us begin by thanking you for convening a task force charged to examine the state's recent Information Technology (IT) failures and to consider solutions aimed at preserving taxpayer dollars. The taxpayers of this state are justifiably frustrated by the tax dollars that have been wasted and misused. A closer look at these troubles was certainly in order.
The Speaker's Task Force on State Information Technology Failures, comprised of eight legislative members and eight private‐sector Information Technology experts, sought to examine these problems in more detail. The Task Force conducted case studies, interviews and hearings devoted to learning from past mistakes in order to protect tax dollars in the future.
A state audit of Information Technology Projects finished its work shortly before our Task Force convened. The various recommendations of the audit have been examined closely throughout the work of the Task Force, and the audit team has provided invaluable assistance as we worked to ensure every effort was taken to protect the state from the types of failures that have come to light.
During the Task Force process members presented testimonies, offered suggestions and the public also submitted concerns. In addition, the legislature voted on a biennial budget bill that contained provisions aimed at curbing the culture of mismanagement which facilitated the waste of tax dollars on IT projects.
After considering the many factors which contribute to state IT delays or failures, Task Force members were asked to identify final proposals within four broad categories: IT Project Needs Assessment and Identification; Project Development and Procurement; Implementation; and Oversight. The recommendations include:
• Standardized written policies for IT project procedures; increased IT staffing accountability; smaller project sizes; and vendor‐selection criteria that include a vendor's track record on similar projects.
• Uniform information technology policies and procedures across agency lines; use of off‐the‐shelf systems when possible, and required approval when project customization is necessary; vendor contracts that include classes that require vendors to complete projects without additional payments, or prior approval to exclude the clause; more aggressive upgrade and innovation cycles; and a greater emphasis on cross‐agency resource sharing.
• “Executive Sponsors" for all projects; reassigning ineffective project staff; education of human resources employees on the needs of the information technology staff; and providing an environment where employees can raise and resolve issues.
• Reinstating the Joint Committee on Information Policy and Technology (JCIPT) and the Information Technology Management Board; careful review of all ongoing information technology projects; and the creation of a more cohesive Project Management Office within DOA.
While the biennial budget bill directs the Department of Administration to address many of the items mentioned above, it is clear that the most glaring omission in the state's IT projects is consistent and careful oversight to ensure compliance with current state statutes prescribing effective management practices. Convening the JCIPT seems to be a necessary step to ensuring that provisions designed to preserve taxpayer funds directed toward state IT projects are not only conserved, but are utilized in a manner that provides effectual implementation of state IT projects.
Convening the Speaker's Task Force on State Information Technology Failures has been a key step in strengthening the state's IT procedures. Reconvening a standing legislative committee with the authority necessary to monitor and approve present and future IT projects will be the next important step in providing the taxpayers of the state with assurance that the state will continue to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars.
Sincerely,
PHIL MONTGOMERY, CHAIR SUE JESKEWITZ
4th Assembly District 24th Assembly District
JOSH ZEPNICK DON PRIDEMORE
9th Assembly District 99th Assembly District
LOUIS MOLEPSKE JEFF WOOD
71st Assembly District 67th Assembly District
JIM OTT MIKE SHERIDAN
23rd Assembly District 44th Assembly District
Patrick Fuller
Assembly Chief Clerk
17 West Main Street, Suite 401
Madison, WI 53708
Dear Patrick:
I would like to be added as a co‐sponsor to Assembly Bill 732 regarding the creation of meat processing facility investment credits. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Lee Nerison
State Representative
96th Assembly District
__________________
Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
January 28, 2008
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
We have completed our fiscal year (FY) 2006‐07 financial audit of the State of Wisconsin Investment Board, as requested by the Investment Board and to fulfill our audit requirements under s.
13.94(1)(df), Wis. Stats. The Investment Board's financial statements present the investments and investment activity for the State Investment Fund, the Wisconsin Retirement System funds, and five other smaller insurance and trust funds. The statements and our unqualified opinions on them are included in the Investment Board's FY 2007 Annual Report, which can be found on the Investment Board's Web site.
The State Investment Fund invests the excess operating funds of State of Wisconsin agencies, the retirement funds, and the Wisconsin Local Government Investment Pool. Net investment income earned by the State Investment Fund increased 38.3 percent, from $218.9 million in FY 2005‐06 to $302.7 million in FY 2006‐07 because of higher interest rates in the markets. After factoring in net investment income and net deposits and withdrawals, the State Investment Fund had a net asset balance of $6.2 billion as of June 30, 2007.
The retirement funds, which include the Core Retirement Investment Trust Fund and the Variable Retirement Investment Trust Fund, experienced positive investment returns in FY 2006‐07. The Core Fund reported net investment income of $12.2 billion, and the Variable Fund reported net investment income of $1.3 billion. After factoring in net investment income, net contribution receipts, and benefit disbursements in FY 2006‐07, the net investment assets of the retirement funds as of June 30, 2007, were $80.5 billion for the Core Fund and $7.4 billion for the Variable Fund.
The Investment Board is also responsible for investing the assets of five insurance and trust funds: the Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund, the State Life Insurance Fund, the Local Government Property Insurance Fund, the Historical Society Trust Fund, and the EdVest Tuition Trust Fund. Each of these funds has different investment policies, as established by the agency responsible for the fund and the Investment Board. The largest of these funds, the Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund, had net investment assets totaling $798.1 million as of June 30, 2007.
Government Auditing Standards require us to provide an auditor's report on internal control over financial reporting and on compliance and other matters, which accompanies this letter. As noted in the report, we did not identify any control or compliance concerns that are required to be reported under these standards.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
January 31, 2008
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
We have completed a financial audit of WHA Television, as requested by the University of Wisconsin‐Extension to fulfill the audit requirements of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The Corporation requires audited financial statements of public broadcasting entities to determine future funding levels.
WHA Television is licensed to the University of Wisconsin System's Board of Regents and is operated by the University of Wisconsin‐Extension. WHA Television earned $16.6 million in revenues during fiscal year 2006‐07, including state support, member contributions, funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and various other grants.
Our audit report contains the financial statements and related notes as of and for the periods ended June 30, 2007, and June 30, 2006. We were able to issue an unqualified independent auditor's report on these statements.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by University of Wisconsin‐Extension staff during the audit.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
January 31, 2008
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
A479
We have completed a financial audit of WHA Radio, as requested by the University of Wisconsin‐Extension to fulfill the audit requirements of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The Corporation requires audited financial statements of public broadcasting entities to determine future funding levels.
WHA Radio is licensed to the University of Wisconsin System's Board of Regents and is operated by the University of Wisconsin‐Extension. WHA Radio earned $10.2 million in revenues during fiscal year 2006‐07, including state support, member contributions, funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and various other grants.
Our audit report contains the financial statements and related notes as of and for the periods ended June 30, 2007, and June 30, 2006. We were able to issue an unqualified independent auditor's report on these statements.
