I had intended to vote in favor of all of the pending state employee contracts. When Senate Bill 577 came before the State Assembly for a vote, I accidentally hit the wrong button and, thus was recorded as voting no on the bill. I, therefore, ask that the Assembly Journal show that it was my intent to vote in support of Senate Bill 577, as well as all of the pending state employee contracts.
Thank you for your assistance with this matter.
Sincerely,
Terry Van Akkeren
State Representative
26th Assembly District
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Referral of Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Public Service Commission
Madison
June 13, 2008
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
The enclosed audit report on Alliant Energy Corporation and its impact on the operations of Wisconsin Power and Light Company was prepared as required by Wis. Stat. §
196.795(7)(ar) for distribution to the Legislature under Wis. State. §
13.172(2).
If you have any questions or comments about the report please contact Ms. Jodee Bartels of the Commission staff at (608) 267‐9859.
Sincerely,
Sandra J. Paske
Secretary to the Commission
Referred to committee on Energy and Utilities.
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State of Wisconsin
State Claims Board
Madison
June 16, 2008
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
Enclosed is the report of the State Claims Board covering the claims heard on May 29, 2008.
Those claims approved for payment pursuant to the provisions of §
16.007 and
775.05 Stats., have been paid directly by the Board.
This report is for the information of the Legislature. The Board would appreciate your acceptance and publication of it in the Journal to inform the members of the Legislature.
Sincerely,
Cari Anne Renlund
Secretary
Referred to committee on State Affairs.
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State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
June 11, 2008
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
We have completed a review of overtime in state agencies, excluding the University of Wisconsin System, the Legislature, and the courts. During the last three years, state agencies paid a total of $187.3 million in overtime, an increase of 15.2 percent since 2005. The largest category is for premium overtime, which is 1.5 times the employee's regular hourly rate and is typically earned for working in excess of 40 hours per week.
From 2005 through 2007, more than 90.0 percent of all premium overtime payments were for employees in agencies that have 24‐hour operations or must quickly respond to emergencies. Two agencies with the largest amounts of premium overtime-the Department of Corrections (DOC) and the Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS)-identify inadequate numbers of authorized positions as the most significant factor for increased use of overtime. Overtime provisions in collective bargaining agreements and increases in the amount of leave time granted have also contributed to increased overtime costs.
A total of 59 state employees were paid more than $100,000 in premium overtime for the three‐year period we reviewed: 49 were correctional officers and sergeants at DOC, and 10 were patient care staff at DOC or DHFS.
The extent to which the State is relying on overtime to meet continuing operational needs suggests that comprehensive analysis of the most cost‐effective mix of additional authorized positions and overtime may be warranted. We include a recommendation for DOC and DHFS to analyze overtime use at their facilities and submit options for reducing overtime costs to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee by January 5, 2009.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by staff at the Office of State Employment Relations, DOC, and DHFS.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
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State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
June 12, 2008
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
We have reviewed the Office of the State Treasurer's administration of unclaimed property that financial institutions and certain other businesses are required by statute to remit to the State on behalf of owners. As of March 2008, the Office held an estimated $354.2 million in unclaimed cash and unliquidated securities, as well as the unliquidated contents of safe deposit boxes.
In fiscal year (FY) 2006‐07, the Office received $84.3 million in unclaimed cash and liquidated assets; paid more than $22.0 million in claims, primarily to individuals; and deposited $50.0 million in unclaimed property to the Common School Fund, which provides low‐interest loans to municipalities and helps to support school libraries. The program's FY 2006‐07 administrative expenditures-which are funded with program revenue-totaled $4.7 million. Most administrative expenditures were payments to a private contractor, Affiliated Computer Services, Inc., which identifies and collects unclaimed property and provides other services to assist 7.75 full‐time equivalent employees of the Office in administering the program.
As part of our annual financial audit of the State of Wisconsin, we reviewed the Office's internal controls over the unclaimed property program and performed limited testing. Overall, we found the Office's internal controls to be reasonable. We did, however, identify several areas for improvement, which are summarized in this letter report.
In addition, we identified policy issues the Legislature may wish to consider related to allowing a portion of unclaimed property to be deposited to the General Fund and altering the treatment of gift certificates and gift cards as unclaimed property.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by staff of the Office of the State Treasurer during our review.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
