By
Representatives Gunderson, Johnsrud, Suder, Pettis, Kedzie, Ladwig, Freese, Huebsch, Gronemus, Kreibich, Kreuser, Musser, Olsen, Plouff, Powers, Skindrud, Steinbrink, Stone, Sykora and Wade; cosponsored by Senators Plache, Zien, Schultz and Harsdorf.
To committee on Natural Resources
.
__________________
Referral of Agency Reports
January 2, 2001
State of Wisconsin
Council on Physical Disabilities
Madison
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
As required by §
46.29(f) of the state statutes, I am pleased to submit to you the Annual Report of the Council on Physical Disabilities for state fiscal year 2000 (July 1, 1999 through June 30, 2000). The Council appreciates the opportunity to participate in state government as a representative of Wisconsin's citizens with physical disabilities.
Alternate versions of the report are available on request. If you have any questions, please contact Holly Laux O'Higgins at the Office for Persons with Physical Disabilities. She can be reached at (608) 266-8905 or via e-mail at
lauxhm@dhfs.state.wi.us.
Sincerely,
Linda Rowley
Chairperson
Referred to committee on Health.
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State of Wisconsin
Department of Justice
Madison
January 8, 2001
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
Section
165.90 of the Wisconsin Statutes requires the Department of Justice to report on the performance of cooperative county-tribal law enforcement programs receiving aid under this section. This letter constitutes our report.
The County-Tribal Law Enforcement Grant Program continues to help local law enforcement provide needed services in Indian communities. In addition, this program helps build a cooperative atmosphere and positive relationship between law enforcement and tribal governments and communities. Departmental staff is available to discuss this report and this important program.
Sincerely,
James E. Doyle
Attorney General
Referred to committee on Criminal Justice.
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Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
January 12, 2001
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
We have completed an evaluation of the State's recycling activities, as directed by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. State expenditures from the segregated Recycling Fund for fiscal year (FY) 1999-2000 were $28.9 million, used primarily for grants to municipalities for the operation of recycling programs. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) administers these grants and has primary responsibility for the State's recycling efforts.
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The best data available indicate Wisconsin recycled 36 percent of its municipal solid waste in 1995, and the national average was 26 percent in that year. Wisconsin is one of few states nationally that provides substantial financial support to local programs; Wisconsin's grant payments in calendar year 2000 were $24.4 million. Minnesota is the only other midwestern state that provides substantial state support to local recycling programs. Minnesota budgeted $14.0 million for local grants in FY 2000-01 and achieved residential per capita recycling rates similar to Wisconsin's.
Wisconsin grants to municipalities support an average of 30.4 percent of local recycling costs and are used for a broad array of local costs, including salaries, equipment, and administration. However, our review found little relationship between the percentage of local costs covered by a municipality's grant and the municipality's recycling rate.
Although DNR is authorized 19.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) recycling positions, only 15.4 FTE reported working on recycling activities. In addition, DNR has not met a statutory requirement to audit at least 5.0 percent of grants provided to municipalities each year. We include a recommendation that DNR devote its 0.5 FTE recycling auditor position exclusively to audits of municipal recycling grants and suggest DNR report to the Legislature on the relationship of its authorized positions to local recycling efforts.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by DNR, municipal recycling managers, and staff with recycling-related responsibilities in the Department of Commerce and the University of Wisconsin-Extension.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
