To committee on Insurance, Securities and Corporate Policy.
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Enrolled Bills
The following Assembly proposals, which have been approved by both the Assembly and Senate, have been enrolled by the Legislative Reference Bureau:
Assembly Bill 21
Assembly Bill 39
Assembly Bill 56
Assembly Bill 95
Assembly Bill 124
Sincerely,
Charles R. Sanders
Assistant Chief Clerk
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Communications
April 18, 1995
Assistant Chief Clerk Charles Sanders
Wisconsin State Assembly
Suite 402, One East Main St.
P.O. Box 8952
Madison, WI 53708
Dear Assistant Chief Clerk:
Because of an error of mine, State Rep. Bill Vander Loop was not included on Assembly Bill 269, relating to state payment of property taxes on certain residences of disabled veterans and making an appropriation.
In fact, Rep. Vander Loop should have been listed as the lead author. He and I worked together last session on this proposal. We did the same on this session's bill with the understanding that he would be the lead author and my office would handle the drafting.
I want the members of the State Assembly to know that this is Rep. Vander Loop's bill. In order to avoid the high cost of reprinting and reintroducing the bill, I am asking that Rep. Vander Loop be added as a cosponsor with the understanding that he should have been listed as the lead author. Rep. Vander Loop has agreed to this arrangement.
I apologize for the mistake.
Sincerely,
Cloyd A. Porter
State Representative
66th Assembly District
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
March 30, 1995
To the Honorable the Legislature:
We have completed an evaluation of the Wisconsin Waterways Commission, as requested by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. The Commission provides funding for local government recreational boating projects on the Great Lakes and Wisconsin's inland waters.
Since fiscal year 1985-86, the Commission has provided $12.3 million in grants for inland lake projects and $12.9 million for Great Lakes projects, of which $7.6 million was for harbor projects in Racine, Kenosha, and Sheboygan. Questions have been raised about the Commission's role in the development of these project's including whether funds were spent on ineligible costs and whether the Commission's participation contributed to an oversupply of boat slips along the Lake Michigan shoreline and, by extension, increased property taxes in some communities.
Despite questions concerning the eligibility of these harbor projects, we found that all funds approved by the Commission for these projects were spent on eligible expenses. Although construction of berths, or marinas, is not an eligible cost, some believe that by funding even eligible expenses in these projects, such as breakwater construction the Commission encouraged marina development while there is an apparent interrelationship between Commission-supported activities and marina development, this interrelationship is contemplated in the statutes that specifically designate harbor and breakwater improvements, which are often a prelude to marina development, as eligible expenses.
Overall, we believe the Commission has reasonably interpreted the statutes in defining the scope of its project review. If the Legislature believes the Commission needs to take a more authoritative role in assessing the need for, and feasibility of, local projects, the Legislature could direct the Commission to: 1) require information in feasibility studies regarding local government liability and risk; 2) evaluate the quality of feasibility studies; 3) conduct its own independent feasibility studies. An expansion of the Commission's responsibilities would require additional staff resources. Further, because of the potential of increasing balances in the Commission's appropriation, the Legislature may also wish to review the Commission's funding level.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the commissioners, Department of Natural Resources staff, and local officials in Sheboygan, Racine and Kenosha. The Commission's response to the audit is Appendix IV.
Sincerely,
Dale Cattanach
State Auditor
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REFERENCE BUREAU CORRECTIONS
Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 to Assembly Bill 51
1. Page 2, line 10: substitute "board" for "baord".
Assembly Bill 130
1. Page 235, line 22: delete "938. 13" and substitute "938.13".
Assembly Bill 130
1. Page 400, line 22: after "9359" insert "of this act".
Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 to Assembly Bill 145
1. Page 2, line 1: substitute "section" for "sections".
Assembly Bill 176
1. Page 8, line 6: delete ", 773.03(50)" and substitute "and (49)".
Assembly Bill 203
1. Page 1, line 4: delete "(title)".
