Should you have any questions or comments, please call me or Jim Langdon at 266-3529. Thank you for your interest in WHEDA.
Sincerely,
Fritz RuF
Executive Director
Referred to committee on Universities, Housing and Government Operations.
State of Wisconsin
Public Service Commission
December 22, 2000
The Honorable, The Legislature:
Enclosed please find the "Report to the Legislature on Horizontal Market Power in Wisconsin Electricity Market." It is transmitted as required by Wis. Stat. s.
196.025(4)(b), for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under Wis. Stat. s.
13.172(3).
Pursuant to Wis. Stat. s.
196.025(5)(ar), the Commission contracted with an expert consultant in economics to study the potential for horizontal market power, including the horizontal market power of electric generators, to frustrate the creation of an effectively competitive retail electricity market in this state and to make recommendations on measures to eliminate such market power on a sustainable basis. The report provides results of an independent economic study which examined potential horizontal market power problems in Wisconsin electricity markets, comments from numerous industry participants on the commissioned report, and the Commission's initial commentary on the subject. At a later date, the Commission may offer additional guidance to the legislature concerning horizontal market power issues in Wisconsin electricity markets.
Sincerely,
Lynda L. Dorr
Secretary to the Commission
Referred to committee on Health, Utilities, Veterans and Military Affairs.
State of Wisconsin
Public Service Commission
December 22, 2000
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We are pleased to provide the report of the Public Service Commission concerning "Horizontal Market Power in Wisconsin Electricity Markets." This report is transmitted as required by Wis. Stat. s.
196.025(5)b for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under Wis. Stat. s.
13.172(3).
The report provides results of an independent economic study which examined potential horizontal market power problems in Wisconsin electricity markers, comments from numerous industry participants on the commissioned report, and the Commission's initial commentary on the subject. Pursuant to Wis. Stat. s.
196.025(5)(ar), the Commission contracted with an expert consultant in economics to study the potential for horizontal market power, including the horizontal market power of electric generators, to frustrate the creation of an effectively competitive retail electricity market in this state and to make recommendations on measures to eliminate such marker power on a sustainable basis.
If you have any questions concerning this report please contact Mr. Randel Pilo of the Commission's Electric Division at (608) 267-1474.
Sincerely,
Ave. M. Bie
Chairperson
Referred to committee on Health, Utilities, Veterans and Military Affairs.
State of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin - Extension
December 27, 2000
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The Honorable, The Legislature:
As required by section
1606m,
1999 Wisconsin Act 9, included here are model ordinances for a traditional neighborhood development and for a conservation subdivision. The principal author for these ordinances is Professor Brian Ohm, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Wisconsin - Madison/Extension, with much input and support from colleagues and independent reviewers. Brian joins me as a signatory to this letter.
University of Wisconsin - Extension thanks the Wisconsin Legislature for requesting our institution to help Wisconsin communities with implementation of the Smart Growth Law. The development of these model ordinances is but one of the many educational efforts regarding land use and smart growth which UW-Extension has undertaken statewide. As communities grapple with these important issues, we look forward to helping them by providing locally relevant education using the world class educational resources such as those evidenced by Professor Ohm's fine model ordinance development work.
Sincerely,
Kevin Reilly
Chancellor
Brian Ohm
Department of Urban and Regional Planning
Referred to committee on Universities, Housing and Government Operations.
State of Wisconsin
Department of Justice
January 8, 2001
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.
For more than a decade, the Department has awarded grants for cooperative county-tribal law enforcement programs. The statutes require counties and tribes to develop joint program plans. The Department requires plans to include resolutions of support for the plan adopted by county boards and tribal governing bodies, to signify cooperation and mutual commitment.
This program pays for a variety of law enforcement services to Indian communities across Wisconsin. Grants have been used for the costs of patrol, investigation, crime prevention, law enforcement training, alternatives to drug abuse and gang involvement, diversity training and cultural awareness education, computer technology and water rescue and other emergency equipment. Several grants are awarded to programs that include tribal police departments, while most generally help pay for services provided by county sheriffs to Indian reservations and communities.
The Department restructured the allocation process for this program beginning in CY2000. A formula that includes factors that measure crime rate, tribal unemployment and tribal population of each county-tribal program area now assists us in arriving at eligible grant awards. The result has been a more even distribution of awards to county-tribal programs across the state.
The amount appropriated for this program inState Fiscal Year 2000 was $708,400, the same as the prior year's funding. Grant moneys come from Indian gaming receipts as appropriated in the biennial budget. In Calendar Year 2000, the Department issued 16 awards totaling $708,400.
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
State of Wisconsin
Gathering Waters Conservancy
January 1, 2001
The Honorable, The Senate:
It is my pleasure to share with you a report on Gathering Waters' activities and accomplishments for Fiscal Year 2000. This report is being submitted in accordance with the statutory requirements (s.
23.0955(2)(b)5) of the state grant that Gathering Waters received in FY 2000. Gathering Waters had an extremely successful year, thanks to the ongoing support of the state legislature and the Department of Natural Resources.
We look forward to working with the Department and the state legislature on the projects outlined in the report and other initiatives that develop over the course of the year. Please do not hesitate to contact me for additional information. I have also attached Gathering Waters' financial reports for FY 2000 for your review.
Sincerely,
Vicki Elkin
Executive Director
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
January 9, 2001
The Honorable, The Legislature:
As part of our ongoing audits of the Wisconsin Works (W-2) program required by s.
49.141(2g)(a), Wis. Stats., we have completed an evaluation of Wisconsin Shares, the State's child care subsidy program. This program, which is administered by the Department of Workforce Development, was created by
1995 Wisconsin Act 289 to assist W-2 participants and other low-income working families in paying for child care.
In fiscal year (FY) 1999-2000, approximately 33,000 families and 60,500 children participated in the program at a cost of $191.3 million in federal and state funds. FY 1999-2000 expenditures exceeded budgeted levels by $10.2 million, primarily because of increased program participation that was, in part, the result of changes made in the 1999-2001 biennial budget expanding eligibility and reducing family copayments.
From September 1997 through June 2000, monthly program participation increased by 83.5 percent, growing from 18,671 to 34,268. It was estimated that in 1998, approximately 14 percent of eligible children participated in the program. Given that participation rates in several other midwestern states are greater than 20 percent of those eligible, there appears to be a realistic potential for continued growth in Wisconsin if more families choose to take advantage of the program and if adequate funding remains available. However, the extent of future growth is difficult to project based on the newness of the program and the numerous changes made to it since its inception.
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As part of the program, the Department also administers contracts and grants designed to improve the quality and availability of child care services. We believe that improvements in the management of these types of grants are needed to ensure that $11.4 million in increased funding that will be provided to local entities is spent appropriately. In addition, if participation increases and expenditures continue to rise substantially, the Legislature will have to consider a variety of issues related to program funding, eligibility, and benefits.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the Department of Workforce Development and staff of the local agencies we visited. The Department's response is Appendix 4.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
December 28, 2000
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Orton
, John R.,
of Mauston, as a member of the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Board, to serve for the term ending May 1, 2003.
Sincerely,
TOMMY G. THOMPSON
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Environmental Resources.
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
November 30, 2000
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Whittow, George W.,
of Waupaca, as a member of the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2006.
