Assembly Joint Resolution 89
Assembly Joint Resolution 90
Assembly Joint Resolution 91
Assembly Joint Resolution 93
Assembly Joint Resolution 95
Patrick E. Fuller
Assembly Chief Clerk
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Chief Clerk Reports
The Chief Clerk records:
Assembly Bill 8
Assembly Bill 136
Assembly Bill 153
Assembly Bill 174
Assembly Bill 209
Assembly Bill 211
Assembly Bill 281
Presented to the Governor on Tuesday, November 10.
Patrick E. Fuller
Assembly Chief Clerk
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Referral of Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
Madison
October 30, 2009
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
This report is transmitted as required by s.
20.002 (11)(f), Wisconsin Statutes, (for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under s.
13.172 (3), Wisconsin Statutes) and confirms that the Department of Administration has found it necessary to utilize the "temporary reallocation of balances" authority provided by this section in order to meet payment responsibilities and cover resulting negative cash balances during the month of September 2009.
September 2009 Utilization of Temporary
Reallocation Authority
[$ in millions]
Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund
Beginning balance -$44.3
Ending balance -$33.1
Low balance -$44.4
Reason for cash deficit: See detailed explanation below
Mediation Fund
Beginning balance -0.1
Ending balance -0.1
Low balance -0.1
Reason for deficit: Timing of revenues and expenditures
A517
Permanent Endowment Fund
Beginning balance -2.0
Ending balance -2.0
Low balance -2.0
Reason for deficit: Timing of revenues and expenditures
Utility Public Benefits Fund
Beginning balance -5.8
Ending balance -10.4
Low balance -10.5
Reason for deficit: Timing of revenues and expenditures
The cash deficit in the Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund was due to the transfer of $200 million to the Medical Assistance Trust Fund per
2007 Wisconsin Act 20, and the pending liquidation of fund securities necessary to offset this shortfall.
The Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund, Mediation Fund, Permanent Endowment Fund, and Utility Public Benefits Fund shortfalls were not in excess of the statutory interfund borrowing limitations and did not exceed the balances of the funds available for interfund borrowing.
The distribution of interest earnings to investment pool participants is based on the average daily balance in the pool and each fund's share. Therefore, the monthly calculation by the State Controller's Office will automatically reflect the use of these temporary reallocations of balance authority, and as a result, the funds requiring the use of the authority will effectively bear the interest cost.
Sincerely,
Michael L. Morgan
Secretary
Referred to committee on Ways and Means and joint committee on Finance.
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State of Wisconsin
Wisconsin Tax Appeal Commission
Madison
November 3, 2009
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
Please find the attached Tax Appeals Commission 2007-2009 Biennial Report. This report also is posted on the Commission's webpage at
www.wisbar.org and is submitted to you pursuant to Wis. Stat. s.
15.04 (1)(d). If you have any questions or comments regarding the report, please contact me at the Commission's office at 608-266-1391. Thank you.
Sincerely,
David C. Swanson
Chairperson
Referred to committee on Ways and Means and joint committee on Finance.
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Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
November 10, 2009
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
As requested by the Public Service Commission (PSC), we have completed a financial audit of the Universal Service Fund (USF), which was established to ensure that all Wisconsin residents receive essential telecommunications services and have access to advanced telecommunications capabilities. The USF is funded primarily through assessments the PSC levies on providers of telecommunications services, which may be fully recovered from consumers. In fiscal year (FY) 2007-08, provider assessments totaled $31.6 million.
Eight of 14 programs supported by the USF during the period we audited are operated by the PSC. However, the largest program supported by the USF in FY 2007-08 was the Educational Telecommunications Access Program, which is administered by the Department of Administration. That program subsidizes data lines and video links for eligible educational institutions and entities such as public libraries and had expenditures of $14.6 million. The USF also provided $14.0 million in FY 2007-08 to fund Aid to Public Library Systems, a program administered by the Department of Public Instruction; funded three other programs administered by that agency; and helped to fund access to voice, data, and video services for four-year University of Wisconsin System campuses.
In past audits, we noted that the USF's fund balance had increased steadily because revenue from provider assessments exceeded program expenditures. In contrast, FY 2007-08 expenditures exceeded revenues by $5.6 million. The resulting decline in the fund balance is largely attributable to increased reliance on the USF as a funding source for public libraries. In FY 2008-09 the USF became the sole funding source for Aid to Public Library Systems, and the current biennial budget requires it to provide $16.2 million in funding for that program in FY 2009-10 and $16.7 million in FY 2010-11.
Our audit report contains our unqualified opinion on the USF's financial statements for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2008, and June 30, 2007. Our Report on Internal Control and Compliance includes a recommendation for the Department of Administration to ensure the accuracy of copayment billings for institutions participating in the Educational Telecommunications Access Program.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by staff at the PSC, the Department of Administration, the Department of Public Instruction, the University of Wisconsin System, and the USF's administrator, Wipfli LLP.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
