Wisconsin Legislature: S682

We have completed an evaluation of grants awarded through the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship Program, as requested by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. The program was created in 1989 to preserve natural resources and expand outdoor recreation opportunities and is administered by the Department of Natural Resources. Through fiscal year 1999-2000, overall Stewardship Program expenditures have been $190.6 million, of which $45.3 million, or 23.8 percent, has been expended for 974 grants to local governments and nonprofit conservation organizations to purchase or develop property.

In a sample of grant files reviewed, the average appraised value on a per acre basis was $2,802, which is 120.2 percent greater that the average local assessment for property tax purposes, which was $1,272 per acre. We include recommendations for the Department to improve its procedures for reviewing appraisals, including obtaining its own independent appraisals for properties valuesd in excess of $200,000, and prohibiting local government applicants from submitting appraisals that are commissioned and paid for by prospective sellers.

1999 Wisconsin Act 9 reauthorized the Stewardship Program for an additional ten years and provides annual bonding authority of $46.0 million beginning in fiscal year 2000-2001, an increase from the $23.1 million in general obligation bonding authority that had been allocated in each of the program's first ten years. However, it also restricts some grants to funding only "nature-based outdoor recreation." We have included a number of policy questions for the Legislature to consider in determining how this policy will be implemented and the effect it will have on the Aid to Local Parks grant category, which in the past has become the most utilized grant category.

We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the Department of Natural Resources. The Department's response is Appendix VII.

Sincerely,

Janice Mueller

State Auditor

State of Wisconsin

Ethics Board

October 10, 2000

The Honorable, The Senate:

The following lobbyists have been authorized to act on behalf of the organizations set opposite their names.

For more detailed information about these lobbyists and organizations and a complete list of organizations and people authorized to lobby the 1999 session of the legislature, visit the Ethics Board's web site at http://ethics.state.wi.us

Agara, Julius Wisconsin Cluster of YMCAs Executive Committee

Boxer, Barbara K Managed Health Services Insurance Corporation

Broydrick, William YWCA of Greater Milwaukee

Carey, Ray Wisconsin Cluster of YMCAs Executive Committee

Dickert, John T Wisconsin Cluster of YMCAs Executive Committee

Elverman, Timothy J YWCA of Greater Milwaukee

Kammer, Peter ARDA - WI

Lund, Jack Wisconsin Cluster of YMCAs Executive Committee

Matthews, John Wisconsin Cluster of YMCAs Executive Committee

Molinari, Susan Americans for Consumer Education & Competition Inc

Peters, Thom Wisconsin Cluster of YMCAs Executive Committee

Potter, Rosemary Wisconsin Cluster of YMCAs Executive Committee

Also available from the Wisconsin Ethics Board are reports identifying the amount and value of time state agencies have spent to affect legislative action and reports of expenditures for lobbying activities filed by the organizations that employ lobbyists.

Sincerely,

Roth Judd

Director

S682__________________

referrals and receipt of committee reports concerning proposed administrative rules

Senate Clearinghouse Rule 00-115

Relating to mines, pits and quarries.

Submitted by Department of Commerce.

Report received from Agency, October 9, 2000.

Referred to committee on Economic Development, Housing and Government Operations, October 11, 2000.

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The committee on Economic Development, Housing and Government Operations reports and recommends: