The Wisconsin Legislature’s Joint Audit Committee has ordered two audits: one to examine how the Department of Public Instruction DPI analyzes school district financial data, and another to investigate financial losses in the Department of Natural Resources’ DNR fish and wildlife account.
Both audits were approved along party lines, with only Republican support.
The audit of the DPI was initiated by Republicans in response to the financial crisis at Milwaukee Public Schools. The district failed to submit required financial documents on time, leading to a warning from DPI in May that state funding would be withheld if the documents weren’t received.
Since then, Milwaukee Public Schools have been working with DPI to correct the issue. Additionally, Governor Tony Evers has ordered two more audits of the district, focusing on operational and instructional matters, to be conducted by private auditors.
At the hearing, Sen. Eric Wimberger (R-Green Bay), co-chair of the committee, raised concerns about DPI’s handling of the situation, questioning whether the department withheld information to influence a referendum. He criticized DPI for not addressing the issues at Milwaukee Public Schools sooner.
DPI Deputy Superintendent Tom McCarthy defended the department’s actions, stating that the decision to send the May warning letter was not related to the district’s $252 million referendum. He emphasized that auditing is primarily the responsibility of local school boards and highlighted challenges such as a shortage of auditors and rising costs.
The committee also approved an audit of the DNR’s fish and wildlife account, which is facing a projected $16 million deficit by 2026, despite a recent $25 million allocation in the state budget. The audit will investigate how the DNR has been managing the account, which funds activities related to hunting, fishing, and wildlife management.
DNR Deputy Secretary Steven Little acknowledged the account’s ongoing deficit and welcomed the audit. He noted that the primary source of revenue for the account—fees for hunting, fishing, and related licenses—has not kept up with inflation, and recent attempts to raise fees have failed.
Both audits were passed with Republican votes, while Democrats on the committee expressed concerns about the necessity and timing of the audits.