Sincerely,
Carol Roessler
State Senator
18th Senate District
__________________
November 25, 2003
Speaker John Gard
State Capitol, 211 West
Madison, WI
Dear Speaker Gard:
It has been my distinct honor to serve in the Wisconsin State Assembly for the last 21 years. Over that time I have had the pleasure of working with many exceptional legislators.
I do look forward to serving an even greater portion of the City of Milwaukee in the Wisconsin State Senate and will continue to serve my constituents with the same level of dedication that I have always provided in the Assembly. I am sure that my move to the South Wing will not prevent me from maintaining the many great personal relationships that I have formed with so many of my colleagues here.
Effective November 25, 2003, I have resigned my seat as Representative for the 17th Assembly District. Please contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.
Sincerely,
Senator Spencer Coggs
6th Senate District
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Revisor of Statutes Bureau
Madison
DATE: December 1, 2003
TO: Patrick E. Fuller
Assembly Chief Clerk
Donna J. Doyle
Assistant Senate Chief Clerk
FROM: Gary L. Poulson
Deputy Revisor of Statutes
SUBJECT: Rules published in the November 30, 2003,
Wisconsin Administrative
Register, No. 575.
The following rules have been published:
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Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
November 25, 2003
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
We have completed an evaluation of the Department of Transportation's (DOT's) major highway program, as requested by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. In fiscal year (FY) 2002-03, DOT's total budget was $2.4 billion; the major highway program's portion of the budget was $241.6 million. In September 2003, 32 major highway projects were being planned or were under construction.
Major highway program funds can be used only for new construction projects that are specifically enumerated in statutes. To help determine the reasons for cost increases that occur between enumeration and completion, we reviewed seven current projects. We found that the estimated cost for each had increased by at least $20.0 million since enumeration. The discretion DOT currently exercises in project selection, location, and design greatly affected these projects' costs.
We attempted to track the cost of complying with state and federal environmental laws, but the information DOT maintains on these expenditures is incomplete. DOT estimates that in FY 2001-02 - the latest year for which data are available - these costs totaled $29.1 million; however, contractors provided us with other examples of costs not included in DOT's estimates. We include a recommendation for improving DOT's monitoring of environmental expenditures.
We compared Wisconsin's transportation funding sources, spending, and highway conditions with other midwestern states'. Wisconsin is in the middle in state highway spending and conditions, but it relies on a narrower funding base and is increasingly using bonding for the highway program. As debt service increases, the amount of funds available to support future projects decreases. We list a number of challenges DOT and the Legislature will face as they seek to maintain the existing highways or expand the system to meet safety, economic development, and other needs. We also include a number of recommendations for improving DOT's estimating and cost-reporting processes.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by DOT staff. The agency's response follows the appendices.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
