Chief Lobbyist
Office of Governmental Relations
State of Wisconsin
Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District
December 17, 1998
The Honorable, The Legislature:
Attached please find the Miller Park monthly progress report for the month of November 1998 for your review and consideration.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments regarding the enclosed report.
Sincerely,
Michael R. Duckett, P.E.,R.L.S.
Executive Director
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
December 21, 1998
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We have completed an evaluation of the Kinship Care program administered by the Department of Health and Family Services. The program provides cash assistance to individuals who provide care for the children of relatives who are absent or otherwise unable to care for their children. The program's budget, $24.2 million in fiscal year 1998-99, is funded through the federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) block grant and general purpose revenue funds. More than 8,000 children received Kinship Care benefits in June 1998.
Attention was drawn to the Kinship Care program in 1998, when eligible children and families were being placed on waiting lists because funding was insufficient to meet demand for the program. Although budget predictions underestimated the number of eligible families who would apply for the program, especially in Milwaukee, we did not find the projections to have been unrealistic given information available at the time. In September, an additional $1.9 million was transferred to the program to provide benefits to families reported to be on waiting lists and to allow for some additional growth.
In investigating the reasons for the unexpected program growth, we found inconsistent program implementation among local agencies, particularly with regard to the treatment of children's and caretaker relatives' income. This inconsistency indicates a need for additional legislative attention. In addition, the Department's management and oversight of the program has been limited. Therefore, we include recommendations for additional program monitoring to support informed management and policy decisions.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by staff and in the Department of Health and Family Services and local agencies. The Department's response is Appendix III.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Revisor of Statutes Bureau
January 1, 1999
To the Honorable, the Senate:
The following rules have been published:
Omitted from previous reports:
Sincerely,
GARY L. POULSON
Deputy Revisor
The committee on Environment and Energy reports and recommends:
Relating to the administration of the private forest landowner grant program.
No action taken.
Relating to the assessment and collection of fees providing assistance on the remediation and redevelopment of contaminated lands.
No action taken.
Relating to fishing tournament permitting.
No action taken.
Robert Cowles
Chairperson
for the Month of December 1998
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Burke, for Tom Blaha, on the occasion of retiring from the Postal Service after 33 years of dedicated service.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Rude, for the Ken and Kay Deaver family, on the occasion of being selected as Viroqua's "Family of the Year" for 1998 by the Viroqua Area Rotary Club.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Farrow, for Mary Beth Dutton, on the occasion of being recognized for her accomplishments among the nation's best teachers in Who's Who Among America's Teachers.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Chvala, for Matthew Ennen, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Wirch, for Jason Fennema, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Rude, for Crawford County Sheriff William C. Fillbach, on the occasion of retiring from the law enforcement after 32 years of dedicated service.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator George, for Dr. William Finlayson, on the occasion of his lifelong dedication to public service and promotion of positive change with the African-American community.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Wirch, for Michael Frieman, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Darling, for the Germantown High School Football team, on the occasion of winning the 1998 WIAA Division 2 Football Championship.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Panzer, for Andrew L. Hoelscher, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Decker, for Karen M. Koppa, on the occasion of retiring from the Wisconsin State Service after 21 years of distinguished service.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Rude, for Salome Korn, on the occasion of celebrating her 100th Birthday which is shared with family and friends.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Chvala, for Lake Edge United Church of Christ, on the occasion of celebrating their 50th Anniversary.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Darling, for Richard Maslowski, on the occasion of his years of dedication and hard work for the City of Glendale.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Schultz, for Gordon W. "Gordy" Mueller, on the occasion of a distinguished career of outstanding service to the State of Wisconsin.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Panzer, for John Myatt, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Ellis, for Braeden Peters, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Jauch, for Mary Hulings Rice, on the occasion of being awarded the 1998 Governor's Award in support of the Arts by the Wisconsin Foundation for the Arts.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator George, for Dorothy and Theodore Shannon, on the occasion of their 80th Birthdays that is shared with family and friends.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Burke, for Thomas E. Sharrard, on the occasion of receiving the Institute of Human Relations of the American Jewish Committee 1998 Award.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Schultz, for Pearl Soper, on the occasion of celebrating her 80th Birthday with many family and friends.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Burke, for Kenneth Tyborski, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Lasee, for Adam VanDeWalle, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of condolence by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator George, for the family and friends of Roy W. Wilson, on the occasion of celebrating with them his life on earth.
