MADISON – The Chairs of the Joint Audit Committee, Senator Eric Wimberger (R-Oconto) and Representative Robert Wittke (R-Caledonia), issued the following statement after the release of a new audit of Wisconsin’s handling of federal funds, Report 25-04, the annual State of Wisconsin Single Audit.
The report analyzed more than $12 billion of the $18.6 billion state agencies administer in federal assistance, and found significant shortcomings in how state agencies comply with federal transparency laws. The audit includes 101 recommendations to state agencies to address 43 findings, and also includes:
- $36.1 million in expenditures that state agencies charged inappropriately to federal funds.
- Five state agencies out of compliance with federal transparency laws across nine major programs. Issues included unaddressed concerns identified in a previous audit.
- The report also calls on three state agencies to better monitor outside entities that run federal programs on the agency’s behalf. Auditors made 18 recommendations to improve controls and ensure proper monitoring of these organizations and their disbursement of tax dollars.
“It’s simple: state agencies that accept federal funding to carry out their mission should be able to accurately report how that money is spent. Unfortunately for Wisconsin taxpayers, the results of this audit show that’s not the case,” said Senator Wimberger. “The auditors’ more than 100 recommendations demonstrate a clear need for improvement by many of our state agencies. This report will help us ensure taxpayer funding – both state and federal – is better accounted for by each agency.”
Representative Wittke stated, “I appreciate the work of the Legislative Audit Bureau and the cooperation extended to them by state agency staff. After review, I’m disturbed by the ongoing material weaknesses for improper, or no reporting by state agencies to the federal government. It’s the law! Monitoring where funds are sent and spent is a non-negotiable requirement – too many state agencies aren’t living up to the standards. We will continue to dig into these findings and look to hold agencies accountable to resolve the issues that continue to appear in audit findings.”
