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Audit Reveals Errors
A new state audit is highlighting what has become a regular problem in Wisconsin government.
The Legislative Audit Bureau on Monday released its report into the state’s finances for last year.
The big-picture numbers show Wisconsin’s surplus fell by more than half-a-billion dollars, and the state’s long term debt also decreased by about the same amount.
But the audit also found serious problems in both the Department of Transportation and the Department of Administration.
The DOT problems centered on a $896.5 million “increase in infrastructure capital assets” that was improperly reported.
Auditors ripped the DOA for once again failing to fix its IT security policies.
“We report significant deficiencies in DOA’s information technology security related to insufficient reviews of access and insufficient IT policy exceptions procedures,” the auditors wrote. “In addition, DOA continued to be in statutory noncompliance by providing insufficient oversight and monitoring of executive branch agency IT operations. Given that these concerns have continued for several years, we recommend DOA continue to report quarterly to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee in 2026 on the status of its efforts to provide oversight and monitoring of state agency IT operations.”
Sen. Eric Wimberger, R-Oconto, and Rep. Bob Wittke, R-Caledonia, who run the legislature's Joint Audit Committee said the new report shows the Evers Administration continues to ignore the basics of good governance.
“The Wisconsin DOT made a nearly $1 billion mistake, and it was only caught because of the oversight by legislative auditors," the two wrote in a statement. “State agencies must be good stewards of taxpayer dollars, and providing accurate and complete financial statements is a major part in good governance. We understand that mistakes happen, but the same mistakes happening year after year raises significant concerns."
The audit also warns of more potential problems next year when the University of Wisconsin begins its new enterprise resource planning system, which will impact the state’s overall financial picture.
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