Bill would change highway funds reporting

Press-Gazette Madison bureau

MADISON — Five area lawmakers are backing a bill that would impose more strict financial reporting rules on major state highway projects.

The bill is in response to a state audit last year that showed costs associated with the state's major highway program surpassed initial estimates by almost 70 percent over a decade.

The legislation adopts several recommendations in the audit including:

• Plans for comprehensive accounting for environmental expenditures, including administrative, maintenance, right-of-way, real estate, engineering, contingency and home or business relocation costs.

• An annual report on complete expenditure information for all major highway projects to the Transportation Projects Commission and the Legislature.

• Consistent communication on changes in project design and scope when project of funding needs expand beyond initial proposals.

• Details on the amount and cost of all real estate the DOT purchases for major highway projects before recommendation to the commission.

Sponsors of the bill include Republican Sens. Robert Cowles of Allouez and Mike Ellis of Neenah, along with Reps. Judy Krawczyk of Green Bay, Karl Van Roy of Howard and Becky Weber of Green Bay.

Aside from the audit, lawmakers cited other reasons for the bill including allegations of a recent bid-rigging scheme with state projects, and future spending commitments including billions for the southeast Wisconsin freeway system.

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