I am vetoing this section because the modification to the fee methodology will make it administratively much more difficult for the division to effectively oversee the state's building program. The division needs the flexibility to bill the fee after the design and bidding phases of the project have been completed and the project is set to enter the construction phase. Particularly for larger, more complex building projects, completion of the design and bid phases may not coincide with the biennium in which the project is approved, which makes it difficult to pinpoint an exact bidding and contract date and assign a project to a specific fiscal year. In addition, under the current methodology, agencies have a clear understanding of the size of the fee, as opposed to an allocation that may change as projects are resized or rescheduled.
24. Study of Public Library System Efficiencies
Section 9101 (3L)
This section requires the Department of Administration, in consultation with the Department of Public Instruction, to conduct a study to identify potential savings in public library systems through consolidation, technology, efficiencies, LEAN practices and service sharing. Under the section, the Department of Administration is required to submit a report on the study to the Joint Committee on Finance by July 1, 2014.
I am vetoing this section because it is unnecessary. The Department of Public Instruction is the appropriate agency to conduct such a study and has the ability to do so, without a legislative directive, if it believes a study is warranted.
25. Report Requirement Related to Overweight Permits for Raw Forest Products
Section 2175i
Section 2175i requires the Department of Transportation to submit a report regarding the impact of overweight permits issued for the transport of raw forest products under s. 348.27 (9), including information on the number of permits issued, accidents involving permitted vehicles and the economic impacts of these permitted vehicles. I am vetoing this section to remove this reporting requirement because it is burdensome to the department and is duplicative of multiple studies that have been conducted on potential changes to the size and weight limits of commercial vehicles in the state.
26. Relocation of Outdoor Advertising Signs
Sections 1556m, 1556n, 1556p, 1556q, 1556r, 1556s, 1556t, 9345 (7c) and 9445 (7c)
These provisions replace the term "realignment" with the term "relocation" in the case of nonconforming outdoor advertising signs that are moved in the course of a highway construction project; allow the sign to be moved to another location within the jurisdiction of the city, village or town in which the sign is located; and specify that relocation of a sign does not change the sign's status with respect to local ordinances. Additionally, the provisions require any relocated sign to be the same size and maintain the same height with respect to the highway grade as the original sign. Finally, the provisions specify that a relocated sign must meet all departmental requirements for sign permits.
I am vetoing these provisions because they would result in increased highway project costs related to the relocation of nonconforming outdoor advertising signs and create the potential for significant project delays that result from litigation related to the relocation of these signs.
27. Highway Signage—Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help
Section 9145 (9w)
Section 9145 (9w) requires the Department of Transportation to erect and maintain two directional signs for the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help on the northbound and southbound lanes of STH 57 in Brown County. This section further requires the installation of these signs notwithstanding statutory or administrative rule prohibitions
regarding sign placement.
I am vetoing this section because these signs are expressly exempted from sign placement standards. In addition, I object to this provision because its requirements circumvent the established application and administrative process for determining the placement and approval of highway signage, including criteria regarding the entity responsible for the cost of erecting and maintaining the signs.
28. Highway Signage—Milwaukee Central Library
Section 1581t
Section 1581t requires the Department of Transportation to erect and maintain signs entitled "Historic Milwaukee Public Library" on both Interstate 43 and Interstate 794 in Milwaukee County. This signage is intended to alert motorists of the location of the Milwaukee Central Library. The section also prohibits the department from charging any
fee related to erecting or maintaining these signs.
I am vetoing this section because it circumvents the established application and administrative process for determining the placement and approval of highway signage, including criteria regarding the entity responsible for the cost of erecting and maintaining these signs.
29. Speech Language Pathologist and Audiologist Fees
Sections 2179g, 2179r, 2183d, 2187am, 2187b and 2230m
These sections set speech language pathologist and audiologist credential renewal fees at $75 biennially.
I am vetoing these sections because I object to the practice of singling out certain credential fees in statute. These sections prevent the Department of Safety and Professional Services from setting renewal fees according to the department's administrative and enforcement costs attributable to the regulation of these occupations, as is current practice. Moreover, credentialing fees will be examined as part of the study of the department and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
identified in section 9101 (3s) of the bill and any adjustments to fees should be evaluated as part of that study.
30. Transfer Special Counsel Appropriation
Section 379m
This section transfers the GPR special counsel appropriation from the Department of Justice to the Department of Administration. This section also converts the GPR special counsel appropriation from a sum sufficient appropriation to a biennial appropriation.
I am partially vetoing this section because I object to the conversion of the sum sufficient appropriation to a biennial appropriation. I am concerned that the conversion of the appropriation from a sum sufficient to a biennial appropriation will provide insufficient flexibility to fund program costs.
31. Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
Section 585m
This section prohibits the Board of Regents from allowing the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism to occupy facilities owned or leased by the board. It also prohibits University of Wisconsin System and University of Wisconsin-Madison employees from performing work related to the center as part of their duties.
I am vetoing this section because it targets a single organization. The use of taxpayer-supported facilities by private or quasi-public organizations, as well as use of staff time in support of these organizations, is an issue of concern. Therefore, I am directing the Board of Regents to develop a systemwide policy related to the use of University of Wisconsin facilities and staff time by outside organizations.
32. Sale of Department of Natural Resources Land
Section 509z
This provision requires the Department of Natural Resources, no later than June 30, 2017, to offer for sale at least 10,000 acres of department property located outside the Stewardship property boundaries established as of May 1, 2013, and to sell at least 250 acres of productive agricultural land annually through fiscal year 2019-20 and specify that the land must remain in use as productive farmland in perpetuity.
Proceeds from the sale of the land must be used to repay any outstanding public debt (including debt issued under the Stewardship Program) and pay the federal government any of the proceeds as required by federal law. Any sale of land received through gifts and grants must adhere to any restrictions governing the use of the proceeds.
I am partially vetoing this provision to eliminate the specific reference to the sale of productive agricultural land. I object to the requirement to sell a specified amount of productive agricultural land annually as it may put a burden on the department to sell land at a below-market price. Instead, I am directing the department to offer for sale productive agricultural land as part of the provision to offer for sale the acres outside of the Stewardship property boundaries.
33. Report on Deletion of Positions in the Department of Natural Resources
Section 9101 (3u)
This provision requires the Department of Administration to provide a report by January 1, 2014, to the Joint Committee on Finance for the Committee's review and approval under a 14-day passive review identifying 32.1 FTE positions in the
Department of Natural Resources to be deleted, which includes 7.8 FTE GPR positions, 9.1 FTE FED positions, 4.0 FTE PR positions and 11.2 FTE SEG positions.
I am partially vetoing the provision to remove the deadline and the Committee's 14-day passive review process because it is inconsistent with a similar provision in the bill and creates unnecessary workload. Under the bill, the Department of Administration is also required to report to the Joint Committee on Finance on the identification of 450 FTE positions to be eliminated from state agencies no later than January 1, 2015. I am directing the Department of Administration to include the separately-identified Department of Natural Resources positions in the report on the 450 FTE positions.
34. Unclassified Position Authority
Sections 2002, 2006m, 2182m and 9138 (8c)
These sections reduce the number of unclassified division administrators authorized for the Department of Safety and Professional Services and repeal the department's authority for unclassified bureau directors.
I am vetoing these sections because I object to reducing the current number of unclassified positions in the department at this time. Staffing levels will be examined as part of the study of the department and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection identified in section 9101 (3s) of the bill, and changes to unclassified position authority should be delayed until that study is completed. While the veto will permit the department to have up to eight unclassified division administrators and up to five unclassified bureau directors, I am directing the department to maintain current staffing levels and to remain within its current position authorization level.
E. investing in Infrastructure
35. Building Program Issued Bonds
Section 9104 (11i)
This section specifies that $250,000,000 in general obligation bonding shall not be issued for enumerations in the 2007-09 and 2013-15 state building programs.
I am partially vetoing this section because I object to the language in the bill. However, I support the goal of reducing general obligation bond issuance in the 2013-15 biennium for the state building program. Therefore, I direct the Department of Administration secretary to reduce $250,000,000 in general obligation bonds issued in the 2013-15 biennium for the newly enumerated projects in this act. With this partial veto, I remain committed to reducing the issuance of $250,000,000 in general obligation bonds while providing flexibility for implementation.
36. Bonding Refunding Authority
Section 489 [as it relates to restrictions on refunding transactions]
This section includes a restriction specifying that refunding bond transactions may only occur where the annual principal payment on the refunding bonds does not exceed the annual principal payments on the current bonds.
I am partially vetoing this section to remove this restriction because it prevents refunding transactions from occurring in market environments where principal payments may be higher while still providing debt service savings. Current market conditions provide premium purchase pricings for bonds, which provide debt service savings from reduced principal payments. In future markets, refunding transactions may have annual debt service savings resulting from reduced interest payments; in this environment, the annual principal payment costs of the refunding bonds may be equal to or greater than the annual principal payment costs of the refunded bonds. With this veto, I am ensuring that refunding transactions and debt service savings can be realized in different market conditions.
37. State-Owned Real Property Sales
