The Joint Audit Committee held a public hearing Wednesday, Feb. 22 on the January audit of the Department Transportation’s highway program. The audit found increased expenditures, inaccurate cost estimates and deteriorating state roads. At the beginning of the hearing, the committee questioned the two state auditors. Legislators expressed concern about the upcoming DOT budget. Joint […]
New DOT Audit Released
Date Fri, Feb. 3, 2017 - 10:32am By Hamilton
The Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB) released a new audit of the Department of Transportation (DOT) on Jan. 26, revealing increased expenditures, inaccurate cost estimates and deteriorating state roads. The audit comes amid this session’s contentious transportation budget debate. The audit examined 16 highway projects that were ongoing as of August 2016 and 19 completed projects. […]
DOT Secretary Resigns
Date Thu, Jan. 12, 2017 - 4:41pm By Hamilton
Gov. Scott Walker announced in late December that the Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Mark Gottlieb offered his resignation, which took effect Jan. 6. Walker named Department of Safety and Professional Services Secretary Dave Ross to take over the position. Gottlieb’s resignation came just before the start of a budget season in which transportation funding […]
Assembly Committee Holds Hearing on DOT’s Budget
Date Tue, Dec. 20, 2016 - 8:49am By Hamilton
The Assembly Committee on Transportation held a hearing on the Department of Transportation’s 2017-19 state budget request on Tuesday, Dec. 6. This budget request includes $500 million in new bonding, but no tax or fee increases. Committee chairperson Rep. Keith Ripp (R-Lodi) and the committee heard from 14 groups with a stake in the transportation […]
State Agency Budget Requests Exceed Expected Revenue by $693 Million
Date Thu, Dec. 1, 2016 - 8:16pm By Hamilton
On Nov. 21, the Department of Administration (DOA) released a report on agency budget requests and revenue estimates for the 2017-19 biennium. As in previous years, these budget requests exceed the revenue projections for FY 2017-19. DOA Secretary Scott Neitzel notes this “imbalance” in the opening letter of the report, stating as in the past, […]
Walker Announces Budget Increase for Local Roads
Date Fri, Oct. 21, 2016 - 10:12am By Hamilton
On Oct. 13, 2016, Gov. Scott Walker announced his plan to increase local road funding by 8.5 percent in his 2017-2019 budget for the local road improvement program and general transportation aids. Walker’s release stated his budget would invest an additional $14.6 million in to general transportation aids. Combined with the nearly $9 million increase […]
Department of Transportation Budget Ignites Funding Debate
Date Mon, Sep. 26, 2016 - 11:52am By Hamilton
As anticipated, the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) agency budget request includes no increases to taxes or fees to increase transportation revenues, fulfilling Gov. Walker’s directive to the agency. Walker and Assembly Republicans have been publicly at odds over the agency budget request, with Walker stating he is “willing to consider any specific alternatives from Assembly […]
LFB Memo Shows Transportation Shortfall in Next Biennium
Date Tue, Aug. 9, 2016 - 3:16pm By Hamilton
On July 27, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) released a memo projecting the Department of Transportation (DOT) will need an additional $939 million in revenue to maintain current transportation funding levels in the 2017-19 budget. The memo was requested by Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette), co-chair of the Joint Finance Committee (JFC). Along with the release of the […]
Governor Vetoes Two Bills
Date Thu, May. 5, 2016 - 3:21pm By Hamilton
The review period for the governor to sign or veto legislation has now ended. While Gov. Scott Walker signed most bills, he also issued his first full vetoes. Senate Bill 360 and Senate Bill 87 were vetoed and returned to the Senate. SB 360, which was introduced by Sen. Jerry Petrowski (R-Marathon) and Sen. Luther […]
Dies in Committee: Loss-of-Use Liability for Rental Motor Vehicles
Date Mon, Mar. 28, 2016 - 3:08pm By Hamilton
Under Assembly Bill 672/Senate Bill 495, introduced by Rep. Nancy VanderMeer (R-Tomah) and Sen. Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield), a rental company may hold a renter or driver of a rental car liable for loss of use that results from an accident if the renter or driver is cited or charged with inattentive or reckless driving or […]