Department of Administration
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
November 14, 1997
The Honorable, The Legislature:
Chapter 34, Laws of 1979, requires that when the Department of Administration maintains an office in Washington, DC, for the purpose of promoting federal/state cooperation, it should submit a report detailing the activities of the office and reporting the status of federal legislation of concern to the Legislature and other state agencies (Wis. Stats. 16.548(2)).
The report for the period July 1, 1997, through September 30, 1997, is attached.
Sincerely,
Mark D. BUgher
Secretary
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
November 10, 1997
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 October, 1997.
On October 20, 1997 the Wisconsin Petroleum Inspection Fund balance was -$1.52 million. This shortfall continued until October 21, 1997 when the balance reached $7.24 million. This shortfall was due to the timing of revenues.
On October 2, 1997 the Wisconsin Health Education Loan Repayment Fund balance was -$1 thousand. This shortfall continued through the end of the month. This shortfall was due to the timing of revenues.
The Wisconsin Petroleum Inspection and Health Education Loan Repayment Fund shortfalls were not in excess of the $400 million ceiling 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.
Sincerely,
Mark D. Bugher
Secretary
Referred to joint committee on Finance.
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
November 25, 1997
The Honorable, The Legislature:
As directed by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, we have completed an evaluation of state corrections costs. Expenditures for incarcerating adults in state correctional facilities have increased 129.4 percent in the past ten years, from $121.6 million in fiscal year (FY) 1985-86 to $279 million in FY 1995-96. This increase accounts for a growing proportion of state general purpose revenue spending, and the Department of Corrections predicts both expenditures and adult inmate populations will continue to increase into the foreseeable future.
Wisconsin's per inmate costs are slightly higher than the national average but close to the average of other midwestern states. Security staff costs are the largest component of overall costs, and while Wisconsin's inmate-to-staff ratio of 4.5 to 1 was the same as the national average, it is slightly below the midwestern average of 4.8 to 1. Shortcomings in the Department's record-keeping systems prevent detailed analyses of other departmental costs, such as rehabilitation or social services programs, or comparisons of such costs and services among institutions. For example, although we estimate the Department spends approximately $16.2 million annually on non-work rehabilitation programs, neither the effect of these programs nor why some inmates' rehabilitation needs are met and others are not can be readily determined.
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In an effort to reduce overcrowding and reduce expenditures, the Department is increasingly contracting both to house inmates in non-department facilities and for food, health, and other services within its own facilities. Daily costs to house inmates in Texas jails and federal prison are lower than the Department's housing costs, while daily costs to house inmates in Wisconsin county jails are higher. In addition, the cost of contracting for health and food services at the Prairie du Chien facility exceeds the Department's average cost for direct provision of those services at facilities of similar size. Because bids have not yet been sought for services at the new Boscobel facility, these contracting costs cannot be analyzed. We have included suggestions for contracting guidelines to ensure that future contracts better meet the goals of the State.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the Department of Corrections. The Department's response is the Appendix.
Sincerely,
Dale Cattanach
State Auditor
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Relating to life insurance solicitations.
Submitted by Office of the Commissioner of Insurance.
Report received from Agency, November 21, 1997.
Referred to committee on Insurance, Tourism and Rural Affairs, November 26, 1997.
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The committee on Judiciary, Campaign Finance Reform and Consumer Affairs reports and recommends:
Senate Clearinghouse Rule 9-124
Relating to the calculation of indigency.
No action taken.
Robert Wirch
Chairperson
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Secretary of State
To the Honorable, the Senate:
Sincerely,
Douglas La follette
Secretary of State
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Senate Enrolled Proposals
The Chief Clerk records:
Senate Bill 324
Senate Bill 355
Senate Bill 359
Report correctly enrolled on November 25, 1997.
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Corrections In:
1997 senate amendment 4
to 1997 Senate Bill 285
Prepared by the Legislative Reference Bureau
(Tuesday, November 25, 1997)
1. Page 4, line 5: substitute " line 14" for "line 4".
